Couple caught with ganja worth ₹36,000 in Ahmedabad; history of crimes unearthed

The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Ahmedabad Police has apprehended a husband and wife for allegedly smuggling and selling ganja in the city. The couple, residents of Thakkarnagar, were caught with 3.61 kg of ganja valued at ₹36,100, alongside other items worth ₹67,600.

Acting on specific intelligence, a team from the SOG conducted the operation and arrested the accused, identified as Kamlesh alias Latif Motibhai Vaghela and his wife Pinkiben Vaghela, near the Airport Traffic Police Chowki in Sardarnagar on April 23. The narcotics were recovered from their joint possession. 

Investigations revealed that Kamlesh had devised a method to procure ganja from Rajasthan, sending his wife on train journeys to collect the illicit substance. Pinkiben would smuggle the ganja into Ahmedabad, cleverly concealed in cloth bags. Once back in the city, the couple would repack the substance into smaller packets for local sale, targeting vulnerable customers in their neighbourhood.

The police have registered a case under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the ‘G’ Division Traffic Police Station, and further investigations are currently underway to ascertain the full extent of their operations and any potential accomplices.

In a concerning revelation, police disclosed Kamlesh’s extensive criminal record, which includes over ten previous cases ranging from assault to theft, as well as violations under the Gujarat Police Act and the Prohibition Act. His wife, Pinkiben, also has a criminal history; she was previously booked in 2014 at Naroda police station for offences related to rioting and assault.

The arrest of the Vaghelas has raised alarm about the growing drug trade in Ahmedabad, particularly the involvement of individuals with prior criminal backgrounds. Authorities are now focusing on dismantling the networks that facilitate such illegal activities.