Ahmedabad Crime Branch busts major ganja network, key Odisha supplier arrested

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested a man from Odisha who is believed to be one of Gujarat’s major suppliers of ganja, exposing an extensive inter-state narcotics network that operated through trains, trucks and rented warehouses in the city, officials said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Anil Pandey, had earlier been arrested by the Odisha Special Task Force (STF) in connection with a massive 990-kg ganja seizure case. Police said he has 12 pending criminal cases in Gujarat and has been on the run for several years.

According to investigators, Pandey’s family has been deeply involved in narcotics trafficking. His father and brother have both faced cases related to ganja smuggling, while his brother was previously arrested in a separate drugs case. The Surat Police and Odisha STF had also seized several properties linked to the family as part of earlier actions.

Officials said Pandey was running a well-organised ganja supply chain that sourced cannabis grown in Naxal-affected regions of Odisha. “He would transport consignments to Gujarat through trains as well as by road using trucks. Once in Ahmedabad, the contraband was stored in rented godowns in Vatva and rural pockets before being distributed,” a Crime Branch officer said.

Pandey had also hired labourers to assist in handling and moving the illegal consignments. Police said he had been arrested once before in 2021, but resumed operations shortly after securing release.

Investigators now believe he acted as one of the principal suppliers of ganja to Gujarat and maintained an active network across multiple states.

The Crime Branch has begun further inquiries to track down his associates, identify the warehouses used in the city, and determine the full scale of the supply chain. Additional arrests are likely, officials added.