Gujarat SMC seizes 53,000 kg of illegal industrial chemicals in Danilimda, 6 arrested

The Special Monitoring Cell (SMC) of the Ahmedabad city police on Wednesday carried out a major raid in the Danilimda area, uncovering a large-scale chemical theft operation and seizing chemicals, vehicles, cash and mobile phones collectively valued at over ₹98 lakh, police said.

The raid was conducted on February 4 at an open plot in Transportnagar, behind a hotel in Danilimda, following specific intelligence inputs about the illegal storage and movement of stolen industrial chemicals. The operation falls under offences registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

According to police officials, the team seized 53,020 kg of chemicals estimated to be worth ₹61.69 lakh. In addition, ₹36,800 in cash, seven mobile phones valued at ₹35,000, and four vehicles worth approximately ₹35.5 lakh were recovered from the site. The total value of the seized ‘muddamal’ stands at ₹98.21 lakh police said.

Six accused were apprehended during the raid and subsequently handed over to the Danilimda Police Station for further investigation. The arrested persons have been identified as Soheb Amir Mohamed Sheikh of Shah-e-Alam area; Ishakkhan Yunuskhan Pathan of Danilimda; Bharatsingh  Dhobi and Raju Prasad, both residents of Faisalnagar with native roots in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh; Jitendra Yadav, a resident of Mumbai; and Ladhuram Bishnoi from Barmer district of Rajasthan.

Police said preliminary investigation suggests the chemicals were illegally procured and stored with the intention of resale in the grey market, causing substantial losses to legitimate suppliers and posing potential environmental and safety risks.

Four other suspects linked to the racket are currently absconding. They have been identified as Aspak Amir Mohamed Sheikh of Shah-e-Alam, Prakash Patel of Sola, Dinesh from Vapi, and Timbaliya Hanif. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest them, officials said.

Further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source of the stolen chemicals, identify end buyers, and determine whether the racket has wider inter-district or interstate links.

Authorities added that more arrests are likely as the probe progresses.