Gandhinagar LCB seize charas worth ₹3.89 lakh, one held

The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Gandhinagar police has seized 1.55 kg of charas valued at ₹3.89 lakh from a residential flat in Gujarat's capital city and arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the case, officials said on Saturday.

The operation was carried out at a flat in Swaraj Complex, near G-1 Circle under Sector 7 police station limits. The accused, identified as Laileshbhai Kumbhabhai Chaudhary, a native of Tharad in Banaskantha district, was apprehended from the premises.

Police said the contraband, a blackish-brown powdery substance identified as charas was recovered from four plastic containers kept inside the flat. In addition, officers seized packaging material, a mobile phone, a suitcase, and identity documents, taking the total value of the seized items to ₹3.94 lakh.

The operation was conducted by LCB teams under the supervision of Police Inspector D B Wala and N B Chaudhary, following specific intelligence inputs.

Police said they had received credible information that the accused was storing and distributing small packets of narcotic substances across Gandhinagar. Acting on the tip-off, a team raided the flat and recovered the contraband.

During preliminary investigation, it emerged that the accused was allegedly involved in supplying drugs in small quantities in public areas. Police are now probing the supply chain and distribution network.

Another accused, identified as Bhurabhai, a resident of Tharad, is currently absconding and efforts are under way to trace him.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and further investigation is in progress to ascertain the source of the contraband and possible links to a wider drug network.

Police officials said more arrests are likely as the probe deepens.