Nagpur: The Crime Branch Anti-Narcotics Squad of Nagpur Police arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly possessing MD powder worth Rs 2.55 lakh during a late-night patrol operation under the city-wide anti-drug campaign “Operation Thunder”.

According to police, at around 3.40am on April 18, 2026, officers from the Anti-Narcotics Squad were patrolling in the Sakkardara police station limits when they spotted a suspicious man riding a silver Vespa moped without a registration number on the road leading from Bidipeth Road, Sonzhari Nagar to Solankiwadi.

Police chased and intercepted the rider near an open plot in front of the house of Ajit Solanki in Solankiwadi. During questioning, the suspect identified himself as Prathamesh Vilas Solanki (23), a resident of Solankiwadi, Old Sakkardara, Nagpur.

A personal search conducted in the presence of panch witnesses led to the recovery of 51 grams of MD powder concealed in a zip-lock pouch in the right pocket of his trousers.

Police seized the following items from the accused:

• 51 grams MD powder worth Rs 2,55,000
• Cash Rs 40,000
• Poco mobile phone
• Unregistered Vespa moped
• Electronic weighing scale
• Aadhaar card

The total seized property is valued at Rs 3,65,500.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed that he had purchased the MD powder from wanted accused Sahil Mahesh Solanki (30), a resident of Rameshwari, Nagpur, for the purpose of resale and financial gain.

Based on the findings, a case has been registered at Sakkardara Police Station under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act. The accused has been arrested and handed over to Sakkardara Police for further investigation. Police are searching for the absconding co-accused.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of senior Nagpur Police officials and the Crime Branch Anti-Narcotics team.