Pune: Lohegaon Man Held With 12 Kg Ganja Worth ₹3 Lakh
Pune: Lohegaon Man Held With 12 Kg Ganja Worth ₹3 Lakh
Pune, June 26, 2025 — In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, a 34-year-old man was arrested in Lohegaon for the possession and intended sale of 12 kilograms of ganja worth approximately ₹3 lakh.
The accused, identified as Akhilesh Garib Mandal, a construction laborer residing in Karmabhoomi Nagar, was caught during a targeted operation by the Airport Police. Based on a tip-off received by Police Sub-Inspector Nitin Rathod, the team laid a trap and intercepted Mandal, who was found carrying the contraband in a cloth bag.
Following the discovery, Mandal was immediately taken into custody and charged under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Govind Jadhav of the Airport Police Station. Key members of the team included Crime Branch Inspector Ashalata Khapre, PSI Nitin Rathod, and constables Rupesh Pisal, Shailesh Naik, Rakesh Chandekar, Ankush Jogdande, and Dadasaheb Barde.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Mandal may be linked to a broader drug distribution network. Authorities are now focusing on tracing the origin of the seized ganja and identifying other individuals involved in the supply chain.
The arrest comes amid heightened vigilance across Pune, following a similar case in Yerawada earlier this week. Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar has instructed all units to intensify anti-drug operations and pursue leads aggressively to dismantle local drug networks.
