The Pune rural police have arrested three persons for allegedly smuggling ganja on the old Pune-Mumbai highway. The accused was transporting the ganja from Pune to Khopoli. The action took place on Thursday. The incident took place at Tejas Dhaba in Karla Phata on the old Pune-Mumbai highway at around 3:00 am.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Satya Sai Karthik, 48 kg of ganja and Rs.14 lakh 60 thousand in cash were seized from the accused. Nitin Shivaji Lehne (38 years) Aurangabad Taluka Shirur District Beed) Sandipan Patloba Gutte (age 39 years). Parli Vaijnath, Taluka Parli, District Beed) Ganesh Suresh Darade (age 30 years).
The arrested persons have been identified as Kage, Taluka Kage and District Beed. According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Satyasai Kartik, the police had received information that drugs were being smuggled in the Lonavala division for the past few days and youths in the area were getting addicted to drugs.
For this, 'Sankalp Nasha Mukti' campaign has been launched under which awareness has been created among the youth of the area and strict action has been initiated against those who consume, store and sell drugs. As part of the 'Sankalp Nasha Mukti' campaign, strict legal action has been taken against the criminals selling drugs in the Maval area in the last few days and many accused have been arrested and a large amount of drugs have been seized from them.
On Thursday, It was reported that some persons would bring ganja for sale in four-wheelers in the Karla Phata area of Lonavala. Accordingly, a search was carried out in the Karla Fata area since midnight. Around 3 am, a suspicious vehicle stopped in front of Tejas Dhaba on the old Mumbai-Pune highway road. When the team questioned the people in the car, they gave evasive answers.
Following this, the police took three persons into custody. During the search of the four-wheeler, 48 kg of ganja worth Rs 9.20 lakh was found in two bags. Initial interrogation of the accused revealed that the ganja was being transported to Khopoli for sale. A total of 48 kg of ganja, four-wheelers and mobile phones worth Rs.14 lakh 60 thousand have been seized in this operation. A case has been registered against the accused at Lonavla Rural Police Station.
Sub-inspector Shubham Chavan filed the case on behalf of the state government. A case has been registered under Section 8 (a) 20 (b) (c) 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. Police sub-inspector Sagar Argade of Lonavala rural police station is investigating the case.