Ahmedabad Cyber Police seize 422g hybrid cannabis worth ₹14 lakh, supplier traced to Snapchat ID

The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police on Tuesday arrested a 29-year-old man from a shared flat in Naranpura after allegedly recovering 422.74 grams of high-grade hybrid cannabis worth ₹14.79 lakh during a search triggered by a parallel probe into an online banking fraud. The accused allegedly sourced the contraband through a drug supplier operating on Snapchat, believed to be based abroad.

The police have booked the accused identified as Rajdeep Bharatsinh Gohil, originally from Bhavnagar and currently residing in Naranpura under Sections of the NDPS Act. Officers said Gohil was living with five friends who, according to initial assessment, were not aware of the narcotics stored in his possession.

Cyber fraud investigation leads to narcotics haul

According to investigators, the raid was not prompted by an NDPS lead but emerged from a cyber-fraud probe registered under the BNs and Information Technology Act provisions. During analysis of logs related to fraudulent transactions, police detected mobile numbers registered in the name of a man residing at Shraddhadeep Complex.

Acting on instructions from the Police Inspector, a team reached the flat around noon on Tuesday. Five occupants were present. During preliminary enquiries, the team noticed a suspicious bag emitting the smell of cannabis.

The police contacted Gohil, who was out at the time; upon returning, he conceded that the bag belonged to him. When opened, it was found to contain two large zip-lock packets and 17 small zip-lock packets filled with what appeared to be herbal cannabis.

Search conducted as per NDPS procedure; no contraband found on others

A detailed personal search of Gohil and the five others was carried out. Except for the cannabis recovered from Gohil’s bag, no incriminating material was found on the other occupants — identified as Anuraj alias Raja Rathod (23), Yash Yogeshbhai Pala (27), Kartik Anandrai Dodia (30), Jigar Girishbhai Malviya (31) and Akshay Pankajbhai Rathod (29).

By late evening, a Mobile Forensic Science Laboratory officer examined samples onsite and stated that the substance appeared to be herbal cannabis, recommending further confirmation from FSL Gandhinagar.

* Packet A: 161.5 g, valued at ₹5.65 lakh

* Packet B: 248.79 g,  valued at ₹8.70 lakh

* Packet C (17 small packets combined): 12.45 g – valued at ₹43,575

Total:422.74 g hybrid cannabis valued at ₹14.79 lakh.

The contraband, along with Gohil’s mobile phone, identification documents, and the backpack used to store the drugs, was sealed and seized as evidence. In all, items worth ₹14.84 lakhwere recovered.

Accused claims he sourced ganja via Snapchat; supplier allegedly based abroad

During interrogation, Gohil allegedly told investigators that he had moved to Ahmedabad six months ago and was struggling financially, prompting him to explore “quick-earning” avenues. He claimed he befriended an individual identified as Ajayraj Jadeja alias ‘Lakhan’ on Snapchat, who purportedly operated an organised hybrid-ganja network.

Gohil stated that he ordered cannabis through Snapchat, after which Jadeja’s associates would deliver consignments at various locations across Ahmedabad. Payments were allegedly made through the angadiya system. Gohil said he never met Jadeja in person and only communicated via his Snapchat ID.  Jadeja appeared to frequently post stories indicating he was residing in Thailand.

Gohil insisted his flat-mates had “no knowledge whatsoever” of the narcotics business and believed he was working at a pharmacy.

Arrest and further probe

Police issued a seizure memo, arrested Gohil, and initiated procedures under the NDPS Act. Samples of the seized hybrid cannabis will be sent to FSL Gandhinagar for confirmatory analysis.

The Cyber Crime Police have launched efforts to trace the Snapchat-based supplier network and verify whether the accused had distributed the contraband across the city.