The arrested men have been identified as Rakesh Kumar (42), a resident of Firozpur district in Punjab, and Harbhajan Singh (40), a resident of Kabir Nagar in Raipur. Police said Harbhajan Singh has a prior criminal record and had earlier been arrested in connection with other offences.
According to the police, the arrest was made on January 16, 2026, following a tip-off received by Amanaka police station. The informer alerted authorities that two suspicious individuals were standing with a motorcycle near Veer Singh tea stall on the New Bypass, Bilaspur Road, and were in possession of illegal narcotic substances.
Acting on the information, senior officers directed the formation of a special team, which conducted a swift raid at the location. The suspects were surrounded and detained on the spot. During questioning, both men allegedly admitted to bringing heroin from Punjab with the intention of selling it locally in Raipur.
A search conducted in accordance with legal procedures led to the recovery of 15.32 grams of heroin from Rakesh Kumar and 9.95 grams from Harbhajan Singh. The total quantity seized was 25.27 grams. Police have estimated the market value of the seized heroin at approximately ₹2.67 lakh. The motorcycle used by the accused was also seized.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Lal Umed Singh confirmed the arrests and said the operation was part of “Operation Nishchay,” a sustained campaign against drug trafficking in the district. “The accused were involved in supplying heroin. Such actions will continue, and strict measures will be taken against those involved in the drug trade,” he said.
Police officials added that investigations are underway to determine the wider network involved, including the source of the drugs in Punjab and potential local buyers in Raipur. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
The latest seizure adds to a series of narcotics-related crackdowns carried out by Raipur Police. In 2025 alone, police seized drugs worth over ₹2.81 crore under Operation Nishchay. The confiscated substances included ganja, opium, brown sugar, heroin, charas, MDMA, narcotic tablets, cough syrups and cocaine.
Authorities said the continued flow of drugs into the city poses a serious social threat, particularly to youth, and reiterated their commitment to intensifying surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement to curb the menace.
