Nagpur: In a major crackdown on interstate drug trafficking, Mankapur police arrested four persons from Odisha and seized 29.1 kg of ganja concealed in a specially created hidden compartment of a car. The total value of the seized contraband, vehicle and mobile phones has been estimated at ₹12.02 lakh.

The action was taken at around 4 am on January 8, 2026, when bit marshals from Mankapur police station were patrolling the area. A white car (HR-29 AZ 4166) parked suspiciously in front of Nupur Wine Shop at Farse Chowk caught their attention. As police approached, one occupant fled, while three others were detained.

The arrested accused were identified as Balram Dhana Burdi (23), Pradeepkumar Shyamsundar Das (50) and Surendra Dhanraj Pujari (18), all residents of Koraput district, Odisha. The absconding accused was identified as Jatin Madan Khillo (22), a resident of Nandapur Medical Colony, Koraput.

During a search conducted in the presence of panch witnesses, police found that the car’s boot had been modified by welding an iron sheet over the stepney cavity, creating a hidden compartment. After breaking it open, police recovered 15 plastic packets containing ganja weighing a total of 29 kg and 100 grams.

Police seized the contraband, three mobile phones, and the vehicle. The absconding accused Jatin Khillo was later traced and arrested from near Hotel Delhi Darbar on Ring Road, Mankapur.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were transporting the ganja for illegal sale and financial gain. A case has been registered at Mankapur police station under Sections 8(c), 20(b), 11(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of senior police officials, The action was executed by PI Harish Kalsekar, PSI Rohan Patil, Bajrang Khomne, HC Krishna Tekam, Vijay Bonde, Rakesh Khobragade, PCs Anup Yadav, Pravin Bhoyar, Vijay Yadav, Roshan Bagde, and Hemraj.