Jharkhand Drug Bust: Rs 1 Crore Narcotics Seized in Chatra, Interstate Racket Busted

Chatra, (IANS): In a major crackdown against drug trafficking, police here have seized a massive haul of opium, doda (poppy husk), and poppy seeds valued at over Rs 1 crore across two separate operations.

Three interstate smugglers, including the suspected mastermind, were arrested, while five others managed to escape into the brush.

Addressing a packed press conference at the Collectorate office, Chatra Superintendent of Police Animesh Naithani declared:

“We have dealt a severe blow to the illegal narcotics syndicates operating through our district. Through these two coordinated raids, our teams have successfully seized contraband with an estimated black-market value of roughly Rs 1.01 crore.”

Raid 1: The Roadside Chase and the Mastermind

The first operation unfolded on the Bagra-Chatra Road near Bajrahi Maidan after the police received a precise tip-off regarding an ongoing deal. A special raiding team was quickly assembled under the leadership of Simaria Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nagar Goje Shubham Bhau Saheb.

As the police closed in, the suspects scattered. Armed personnel chased the fleeing traffickers on foot, pinning down and arresting two men: Jivlal Ganzhu and Mohammad Faizan Malik.

Detailing their roles, SP Naithani explained: “Ganzhu is the linchpin. Our investigation reveals that he operates as the mastermind of this entire interstate smuggling network. He sources the opium locally right here in Chatra, and relies on Malik to transport and supply it directly into Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and neighboring states.”

From the scene, officers recovered a TVS Luna moped. Hidden inside its integrated storage compartment was 7.196 kg of wet opium, alongside two mobile phones.

The operation didn’t stop there. Acting on intelligence, the police team moved to search Ganzhu’s residence.

“During the follow-up raid at Ganzhu’s house, we discovered an additional 78.4 kg of doda meticulously packed and hidden inside three large gunny sacks,” the SP confirmed.

Meanwhile, a manhunt remains active for two suspects who broke away.

• “We are actively conducting targeted raids to arrest Haider Khan, alias Diwan, and Dilawar Khan, who both managed to slip away from the maidan,” police officials stated.

Raid 2: Late-Night Ambush in Ichahar Forest

The second bust took place deep within the Ichahar forest under the Lawalong police station limits. Intelligence units warned that a massive stockpile of doda was guarded by traffickers in the woods, waiting to be loaded onto a pickup van.

SDPO Nagar Goje Shubham Bhau Saheb led a tactical team into the forest under the cover of darkness. They caught four guards by surprise. While three fled into the dark, dense trees, the team successfully captured one smuggler, identified as Kailash Ganzhu.

Following the arrest, the tactical team interrogated the suspect on the spot.

“Based on the immediate, precise coordinates provided by the captured accused, we swept deep into the woods and busted three separate hidden storage sites,” a senior officer reported.

The forest search yielded a massive cache:

• 361.052 kg of processed doda
• 23.820 kg of a mixed doda and poppy seed compound
• 25.290 kg of raw poppy seeds

“The international market value of this single forest consignment sits right at Rs 54 lakh,” SP Naithani added.

A formal case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Lawalong police station as teams continue to track the supply chain.