Mumbai
In a significant development, the Mumbai Crime Branch apprehended two individuals, including a notorious interstate drug kingpin, Laxmikant Pradhan, and his accomplice, Bidhadhar Pradhan, in connection with a ganja seizure case from Odisha. The arrests were made in relation to the confiscation of 1820 kg of ganja valued at Rs 3.85 crore. Senior Police Inspector Lata Sutar from the Ghatkopar Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) revealed that seven other suspects involved in the case had been evading authorities, frequently changing identities and relocating to Hyderabad, Telangana, Odisha, and Nepal.
Acting on credible information about interstate drug peddlers and truck movements on December 12, 2021, the Ghatkopar ANC set up a trap in the Vikroli east area, resulting in the arrest of two individuals in possession of the substantial quantity of ganja. A case under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985 was filed against them.
Subsequent investigations led the authorities to intensively search for the kingpin in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The accused were found to be constantly shifting locations between states. Acting on reliable information, a team, including Api Londhe and five police staff, was dispatched to Odisha, where they successfully apprehended Laxmikant Pradhan and Bidhadhar Pradhan, the main culprits, in the Golanthara area on December 9, 2023.
Both accused were brought to Mumbai with transit remand. This operation brings the total number of arrests in the case to five, marking a significant step in dismantling the interstate drug peddling network.
