Surat SOG seizes cobra venom worth ₹5.85 cr, 7 arrested

In a major breakthrough, the Surat Special Operations Group (SOG) has seized cobra venom worth an estimated ₹5.85 crore, marking what is believed to be the first such recovery of this scale in Gujarat’s history.

Seven accused have been arrested for allegedly attempting to sell around 6.5 ml of cobra venom, whose market value has been pegged at nearly ₹5.85 crore.

According to officials, the accused were trying to sell the venom at a premium price and were actively searching for buyers in the Laskana and Sarthana areas of Surat. Of the seven arrested, two are residents of Surat while five belong to Vadodara.

Investigators said the venom was supplied to the accused by a man identified as Ghanshyam Soni from Ahmedabad. During interrogation, it emerged that the accused were part of a network attempting to expand the sale of the highly valuable venom through various contacts.

Police sources said cobra venom is legally used in the manufacture of certain medicines related to blood pressure and cardiac treatment, and also in the production of anti-venom for snakebite treatment.

However, it is increasingly being misused illegally, including for intoxication at rave parties, particularly among youth.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mansukh Ghinaiya (67), Chiman Bhuva (60), Sameer Panchal (41), Pravin Shah (74), Ketan Shah (50), Makrand Kulkarni (54) and Prashant Shah (40).

SOG officials revealed that they had received a tip-off about a gang trying to sell cobra venom. The group was in contact with Mansukh Ghinaiya, who runs a marriage bureau in Surat.

The deal for the venom had allegedly been finalised at ₹9 crore, with commissions fixed for each member of the gang. Acting on the input, the SOG team kept a close watch and conducted raids before the transaction could be completed.

During the operation, 6.5 ml of cobra venom was seized. Officials said the international market value of cobra venom is around ₹90 lakh per millilitre. Further questioning revealed that the main accused, Ghanshyam Soni, a resident near the RTO Circle in Ahmedabad, had handed over the venom to Prashant Shah and Makrand Kulkarni from Vadodara to sell it further. He is currently absconding.

Police teams have been formed to nab the main accused, while the Forest Department has also joined the investigation. Officials said action will be initiated under the Wildlife Protection Act after laboratory reports confirming the nature of the seized venom are received.