Pune, 14 July 2025: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Squad of Pune Police Crime Branch arrested five individuals from Hadapsar and Wakdewadi areas, seizing narcotics worth a total of ₹7.88 lakh.
This action is part of an intensified anti-drug campaign launched across the city following directives from Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. Last week, similar raids were carried out in Bibwewadi, Kondhwa, and Budhwar Peth, where mephedrone and marijuana were seized.
In the Hadapsar area, two suspects from Rajasthan were arrested for attempting to sell powdered opium poppy husk (locally known as dodachura) in the Manjari locality. The police had laid a trap to nab the duo, identified as Rakesh Arjundas Ramavat (41) and Tarachand Sitaram Jahangir (26), both residents of Khedkar Mala, Uruli Kanchan, and originally from Rajasthan. Officials recovered 3.5 kilograms of opium poppy husk from them, valued at around ₹2.15 lakh.
Meanwhile, three individuals were caught attempting to sell marijuana in the Wakdewadi area along the Mumbai-Pune highway. The arrested include Bhagwat Shivaji Mandlik (26) from Rahatni, and Musim Salim Shaikh (26) and Mahesh Narayan Kalse (24), both residents of Shirur Kasar in Beed district. A total of 21 kilograms of ganja was seized from their possession, with an estimated street value of ₹5.72 lakh.
The successful operation was carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Pankaj Deshmukh, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingale, and Assistant Commissioner Rajendra Mulik. The team was led by Police Inspector Sudarshan Gaikwad, Assistant Inspector Nitin Kumar Naik, and PSI Asmita Lad, along with their dedicated personnel.
The officers and constables who played a key role in the operation include Prafulla More, Nitin Jagdale, Yogesh Mandhare, Sandeep Jadhav, Uday Rakshe, Prashant Bomadandi, Chetan Gaikwad, Mayur Suryawanshi, Sahil Shaikh, Ravindra Rokade, Azad Patil, Shekhar Kharade, and Disha Khewalkar. The Pune Police continues its intensified efforts to curb the illegal drug trade across the city.
