Mangaluru: Konaje Police in Dakshina Kannada district seized 80.15 kg of ganja packed in 10 packets and arrested two persons near Mittakodi in Ullal taluk during a late-night interception drive based on credible intelligence inputs. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth approximately ₹40.03 lakh in the illegal market, police officials said.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Naushad and Ibrahim. Both were allegedly transporting the narcotic substance in a white car with plans to distribute it across Mangaluru and parts of neighbouring Kerala.

According to police sources, the operation was carried out after Konaje Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Sharanappa Bhandari received specific information about an interstate ganja transport movement passing through Dakshina Kannada.

Route traced from Andhra–Odisha border

Police said the accused had travelled to Berhampur, located near the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border, to procure the ganja. During preliminary questioning, the accused reportedly admitted that they purchased the contraband by paying about ₹2.42 lakh.

Investigators believe the consignment was sourced from suppliers operating near the inter-state border and then transported by road through Karnataka for distribution. The suspected transport route included the Bengaluru–Hassan corridor, followed by passage through Uppinangady, and onward movement toward Mudipu and Kerala via the Melkar–Sajipa–Boliyaru stretch.

Officials said such routes are increasingly being monitored as traffickers attempt to avoid major highway checks by using interior roads.

Barricades set up after credible intelligence

Acting swiftly on the tip-off, a Konaje Police team proceeded to Mittakodi village within the Kurnadu gram panchayat limits of Ullal taluk. Barricades were set up along the Melkar–Boliyar–Mudipu road, and vehicles were subjected to systematic checks.

During the operation, police identified a suspicious white car matching the description received through intelligence inputs. When officers signalled the vehicle to stop, the occupants allegedly attempted to escape after getting down from the car. However, the police team managed to chase and apprehend both suspects on the spot.

A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 10 packets of ganja weighing a total of 80.15 kg. The contraband was packed for bulk transport, indicating organised trafficking rather than small-scale possession, police said.

Vehicle and mobile phones also seized

Along with the ganja, police seized the car used for transporting the narcotics, estimated to be worth around ₹3 lakh. Three mobile phones found in the possession of the accused were also confiscated as part of the investigation.

Officials said the mobile devices will be sent for forensic examination to trace communication records, supply networks, and possible links to other members of the drug distribution chain. Call data and digital transactions will be analysed to identify both suppliers and intended buyers.

Case registered, further probe underway

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused are being produced before the court, and police are expected to seek custody for further interrogation.

Investigators are now working to identify the larger network behind the procurement and distribution of the seized ganja. Police suspect that more individuals may be involved in financing, logistics, and retail distribution across Karnataka and Kerala.

Rising vigilance on inter-district drug routes

Police officials stated that surveillance and vehicle checks have been intensified across vulnerable corridors in Dakshina Kannada district following multiple recent attempts to move narcotics through the region. Coordination with neighbouring districts and states is also being strengthened to curb interstate drug trafficking.

Authorities have appealed to the public to share information about suspicious movements or illegal drug activities, assuring confidentiality for informants.

The latest seizure is considered one of the larger ganja interceptions in the Konaje police limits in recent months, highlighting both the scale of the illegal trade and the importance of intelligence-led policing in tackling narcotics smuggling.