Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Puttur, Jan 20: Acting on specific information about the transportation of ganja in a car and an Ashok Leyland goods vehicle, the Puttur Rural police seized a total of 106 kg and 60 grams of ganja during an operation conducted on the evening of Monday January 19.

Based on the tip-off, police sub-inspectors of the Puttur Rural police station, along with their staff, intercepted the suspected car and goods vehicle at Sajankadi in Paduvannoor village of Puttur taluk and stopped them for inspection. On questioning, the driver of the car identified himself as Rafiq P (37), a resident of Charmadi village in Beltangady. Suspecting his behaviour, the police conducted a search of the car and found a bundle containing ganja leaves, flowers and seeds weighing about 100 grams, packed in a plastic cover.

Subsequently, the driver of the goods vehicle was questioned and identified as Abdul Sadiq (37), also a resident of Charmadi village in Beltangady. Upon inspection of the goods vehicle, police recovered a total of 73 bundles of ganja weighing 106 kg and 60 grams. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 53,03,000.

During interrogation, the drivers reportedly revealed that the ganja was being transported for sale in Kerala, Mangaluru and other parts of Dakshina Kannada district. For further legal action, the police seized the ganja, the vehicles used for transportation and two mobile phones found in the possession of the accused, and took them into custody.

A case has been registered at the Puttur Rural police station under Crime No. 09/2026, Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act, 1985, and further investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out by a team led by Puttur Rural police station sub-inspector Gunapala J, along with staff members Harish, Harshith, Prashanth, Adram, Prashanth Rai, Praveen Rai, Bhavith Rai, Nagaraj, Satish, Ramesh, Subramani and Vinod.