Mangaluru: In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Panambur police in Mangaluru arrested four persons who were allegedly attempting to sell ganja near the Jokatte Cross railway bridge after transporting it from Maharashtra. The police seized 22.250 kg of ganja valued at ₹11.12 lakh, along with mobile phones and vehicles used for transportation. The total value of the seized property is estimated at ₹12,30,500.

The arrested have been identified as Karan Babu Ram Jadhav (27), a resident of Chopda taluk in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra; Sameer Shah (19), a resident near Tashil in Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh; M.H. Mayyadi (48), a resident of Hejamadi Kodi in Udupi district; and Ibrahim Khalil (47), a resident of Kudroli in Mangaluru, currently staying in Kavoor.

Raid based on credible information

According to the police, the operation was carried out following credible information that ganja had been brought from another state and was being readied for sale near the Jokatte Cross railway bridge, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Panambur police station.

Acting on the tip-off, ACP Shrikant of the North Sub-Division, along with his team, the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) and staff of Panambur police station, conducted a swift raid at the identified location. The accused were apprehended on the spot while allegedly attempting to distribute the contraband.

During the operation, police seized 22.250 kg of ganja packed for sale. In addition, six mobile phones worth ₹18,000 and two scooters valued at ₹1 lakh, which were allegedly used to transport the narcotics, were confiscated. The ganja alone is estimated to be worth ₹11.12 lakh in the illegal market.

Inter-state drug supply network suspected

Preliminary interrogation of the accused revealed that the contraband was allegedly sourced from suppliers in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Police stated that Karan Babu Ram Jadhav and Sameer Shah reportedly procured the ganja from contacts in their respective states before transporting it to coastal Karnataka.

The ganja was then allegedly handed over to M.H. Mayyadi of Hejamadi Kodi in Udupi district and Ibrahim Khalil of Mangaluru for distribution across several locations. Police suspect that the accused were part of a wider network involved in the supply and sale of narcotics in the region.

Investigations indicate that the ganja was being sold in major areas including Udupi, Malpe, Karkala, Mulki, Surathkal, Panambur, and Mangaluru city. Authorities are probing whether the accused had established a regular distribution chain and identifying possible buyers and other associates involved in the trade.

Case registered under NDPS Act

A case has been registered at Panambur Police Station under Crime No. 21/2026 under Sections 8(C) and 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. These sections pertain to possession, transportation and sale of commercial quantities of narcotic substances.

Police officials stated that further investigation is underway to trace the origin of the contraband, identify the suppliers, and determine whether any local network was facilitating storage and distribution.

The accused are expected to be produced before the jurisdictional court, and police may seek custody for further interrogation to uncover additional links in the suspected inter-state drug racket.

Continued crackdown on narcotics

The seizure of over 22 kg of ganja highlights the continued efforts of coastal district police to curb the inflow and distribution of narcotics in the region. Law enforcement agencies in Mangaluru and neighbouring districts have intensified surveillance in recent months following inputs about increasing attempts to bring drugs from other states for local sale.

Senior police officials have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking networks and have urged the public to share information about suspicious activities. Authorities have also emphasised the importance of community cooperation in preventing the spread of narcotics, especially among youth.

With the investigation still in progress, police are examining digital evidence from the seized mobile phones and tracking financial transactions that may reveal the scale of operations. More arrests are likely as the probe unfolds.

The Panambur police have assured that stringent action will be taken against those involved in drug trafficking, in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act.