Police seize 19 kg charas worth ₹28 lakh in Ahmedabad, one held

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Wednesday afternoon seized nearly 19 kg of charas, valued at more than ₹28 lakh in the illicit market, from a car parked near Bhagwati Car Service on the Ring Road. One accused was arrested, while at least two others are believed to have escaped.

According to officials, the contraband was recovered from a white Kia Seltos with UP registration parked in suspicious circumstances outside the automobile service shop. A patrol team intercepted the vehicle around 2.05 pm and found the driver, later identified as Vivek Kumar alias Chunawa Jat Kushwaha (29), a native of Kanthipur village in Surajpur, Uttar Pradesh, sitting inside with his head on the steering wheel.

When questioned, Kumar allegedly gave evasive answers and admitted that two associates had fled the spot earlier. Upon checking the vehicle, police discovered 38 yellow packets concealed under the bonnet and wiper assembly. The substance, which had a distinct odour of charas, was tested and confirmed as narcotics.

A senior officer from the crime branch said, “The total weight of the seized substance is 18 kg 905 grams. Its market value is estimated at ₹28.35 lakh. Apart from the narcotics, officials recovered documents including multiple driving licences under different names, bank passbooks, a chequebook and some Nepalese currency.”

Police added that Kumar was found in possession of at least two forged identity documents under the names of Vimal Rajput and Jayant Kumar. Investigators suspect he has used multiple aliases to evade detection.

Officials confirmed that proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 have been initiated. Kumar has been taken into custody, while efforts are on to trace his alleged accomplices, one of whom he named as ‘Ajay’, said to be from Sujanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

The seized contraband and vehicle have been sealed in the presence of panch witnesses and forensic officials. Police have also sought details of Kumar’s past movements in Gujarat, where he is believed to have earlier operated around Ankleshwar.

The Ahmedabad City Police Commissionerate has directed a deeper probe into the interstate narcotics trail, particularly links between suppliers from Uttar Pradesh and distributors in Gujarat.