Drugs worth over Rs 1.15 crore hidden inside children’s toys, chocolates, lunch boxes and candy vitamins were seized in Ahmedabad on Saturday, police said.

One person has been detained in connection with the case, they said.

In a joint operation, Ahmedabad Crime Branch along with the customs and excise departments seized the marijuana which originated from Canada, the USA, and Thailand.

The parcels containing the hybrid and synthetic ganja were recovered from the Foreign Post Office. 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday said that election-time seizures have reached Rs 8,889 crore, with drugs comprising 45 per cent of the total.

“Enhanced vigil against inducements, including drugs and psychotropic substances, has resulted in big seizure actions and a continuous surge. Drug seizures have been maximum. Regular follow-ups and reviews of districts and agencies in areas of expenditure monitoring, precise data interpretation and active participation of enforcement agencies have led to this significant spurt in seizures since March 1,” the poll body said

The seizure of drugs, liquor, precious metals, freebies, and cash influences elections in varying degrees, some flowing directly as inducement while others through reduced levels of circulation of money.

The Commission, led by CEC Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, held meetings with the DG, Narcotics Control Bureau, to take up analytics-based proactive action for ensuring action by dedicated Nodal Officers of NCB.

Similarly, active involvement of the DRI, Indian Coast Guard, state police and other agencies was ensured during the ongoing elections. All these measures have led to significant seizures in the two months since the announcement of the polls.

“With the increasing intensity of campaigning in the last three phases, the Commission is keeping close tabs on attempts at influencing voters through inducements and has directed the CEOs and enforcement agencies to step up the vigil. The crusade against drugs and other inducements by the Commission will continue,” it added.

The EC stated that the Gujarat ATS, NCB and Indian Coast Guard, in joint operations, have made three high-value seizures of drugs in just three days, amounting to Rs 892 crore.

“These elections have witnessed a series of targeted actions against the menace of drugs. Other states apart from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi have also shown seizures of drugs. On 17.04.2024 Noida Police busted drug factory in Greater Noida wherein 26.7 kg of MDMA drug valued at Rs. 150 Crore were seized and two persons of foreign origin were arrested. The seizures in other cohorts have equally been impressive and surpasses the entire seizures of 2019 Parliamentary Elections by a big margin. Meticulous and exhaustive planning stands at its base,” it stated.

Real-time reporting of interceptions and seizures under the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS)- an in-house app, has resulted in quick, regular and precise reviews on expenditure monitoring. In addition, 656 Expenditure observers deployed for Parliamentary Constituencies and 125 expenditure observers are also keeping a close tab on check posts, functioning of ground level teams and are actively monitoring to ensure that citizens are not put to discomfort in the process of monitoring.

A close vigil is also kept in 123 Parliamentary Constituencies which are marked as expenditure-sensitive constituencies for more focused vigil.

The process of motivating agencies and having an active interface started in full force during the last quarter of 2023. In the first two months of the calendar year, already Rs. 6760 crore worth of drugs were seized, which conveyed a message that the Commission has a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to any form of inducement that may influence the voters.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Pune:

 In a major crackdown, the Pune police arrested a 32-year-old man with 2.38 kg of drugs worth over Rs 2 crore from Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune district.

The arrested individual has been identified as 32-year-old Namami Shankar Zha, who hails from Bihar state.

“The city police, now Pimpri-Chinchwad police, swung into action and seized 2.38 kg of MD drugs worth Rs 2,02,00,000 and arrested the accused from the Pimple Nilakh area of Pimpri Chinchwad in Pune district on Friday,” said an official.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shivaji Pawar, “The arrest of the accused took place after his suspicious movement with a white carry bag was noticed by on-duty assistant police inspector Narayan Patil of Sangvi police station in the local area during night patroling.”

DCP further informed that during the search of the suspect, police found 2.38 kg of MD drugs with a market value of around 2.20 crore and a mobile phone in his possession.

After the arrest, a case was registered at the Sangvi police station under sections 8 (c), 21 (c), and 22 ( c) of the NDPS Act.

Subsequently, the accused was produced in court on Friday and remanded to police custody for seven days by the district magistrate court in Pune.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Champhai, Miozram:

 A woman from Myanmar was arrested and heroin worth Rs 1.04 crore was recovered in Champhai by Assam Rifles on Wednesday.

“In yet another success in its crusade against smuggling activities, Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered 149 gms of heroin worth Rs 1.04 Cr in general area Mualkawi, Champhai on October 4 and arrested a Myanmar woman,” said a press release.

The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles in Champhai and Customs Preventive Force, Champhai based on specific information.

The entire consignment of Heroin worth Rs 1,04,30,000 (Rupees One crore four lakh thirty thousand) and the accused have been handed over to Customs Preventive Force, Champhai for further legal proceedings.

The ongoing smuggling of contraband items is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India.

Assam Rifles rightly christened as the ‘Sentinels of Northeast’ have continued their efforts against illegal smuggling and have also doubled their efforts to nab the kingpins of the smuggling of contraband items in Mizoram.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)