A woman identified as the key supplier in a ganja trafficking case was arrested from Odisha after Raigarh police traced the network back to her through sustained interrogation of three smugglers caught in April. The arrest, made under Operation Aaghat, signals that the Chhattisgarh police are now going after the full supply chain — not just the foot soldiers.

The case goes back to April 22, when a tip-off alerted Kharsiya police that three men were moving a large consignment of ganja from Odisha by train. Officers deployed across likely routes spotted three suspicious youths carrying oversized bags near Kharsiya Railway Colony and detained them before they could move further.

The three were identified as Dinesh Kumar Behra (22), Shiva Behra (21), and Devi Prasad Kanhar (19), all residents of Kandhamal district in Odisha. During questioning, the trio admitted they had boarded a train with the contraband but stepped off at Kharsiya station after getting word that railway police were conducting checks ahead. A search of their bags yielded 52 kilograms of ganja, valued at approximately Rs 25.62 lakh.

What the interrogation unlocked, however, was more significant than the seizure itself.

Each of the three arrested men, questioned separately, named the same source — a woman called Subhadra Digal, alias Mami Malik, aged 41, living near Sambalpur Railway Station in Odisha. According to the accused, she had supplied the ganja and assigned them the task of delivering it to Bina in Madhya Pradesh. A technical check of the mobile number provided by the accused confirmed it was registered in Subhadra's name, giving police the lead they needed.

Raigarh police subsequently travelled to Odisha and, working with local police, raided Gochchapada police station area in Kandhamal district. Subhadra was taken into custody and during questioning admitted to supplying the consignment and arranging for its transport to MP. Her mobile phone, used in the operation, was also seized as evidence.

She was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

SSP Shashimohan Singh said the case is part of Operation Aaghat, an ongoing drive targeting the full drug trafficking chain in the district. The effort, he said, is deliberately moving beyond arresting couriers — the focus now is on identifying suppliers, financiers, and anyone else profiting from the network.

The Odisha-to-MP route via Chhattisgarh has been a concern for enforcement agencies for some time, with tribal districts in Odisha known as source areas for ganja that gets routed into central India.

Bastar police on Tuesday destroyed 2,235 kg of ganja valued at Rs 2.02 crore by burning it in the furnace of the NMDC plant here, officials said. The narcotic substance, seized in 61 separate cases over recent months, was disposed of in the presence of senior police and Narcotics Bureau officials at the plant premises in Jagdalpur.

According to officials, the consignment had been intercepted at various points while being smuggled from Odisha through Chhattisgarh, with most of it destined for onward transport to other states. The total value of the ganja, along with other narcotic material destroyed during the operation, came to Rs 2,02,97,560, police said.

Seized Across 61 Cases

Police records show the cannabis haul was not a single large seizure but the cumulative result of 61 cases registered over time. Officials familiar with the matter said most consignments were caught at checkpoints and during vehicle inspections along routes connecting Odisha to Chhattisgarh, a corridor that narcotics officials have flagged repeatedly as a key smuggling channel into central and northern India.

Smuggled Via Odisha Route

Sources said the bulk of the seized ganja had originated from Odisha, with traffickers using Chhattisgarh as a transit state to move the contraband further into the country. The pattern, according to police, has been observed in earlier seizures as well, prompting tighter checks along the border districts in recent months.

NMDC Furnace Used Disposal

The destruction was carried out as per the laid-down procedure, with the entire 2,235 kg lot fed into the furnace at the NMDC plant under direct supervision. Bastar Superintendent of Police Shalabh Kumar Sinha, along with departmental officers and Narcotics Control Bureau representatives, oversaw the process to ensure compliance with disposal norms.

Syrup Buried, Bottles Recycled

Alongside the ganja, 6,500 millilitres of narcotic syrup was also destroyed, buried in a pit dug specifically for the purpose, in keeping with standard disposal rules. Officials said the empty plastic bottles that had contained the syrup were separated and sent to a plastic recycling unit, in line with environmental norms rather than being discarded as waste.

NCB Guidelines Followed

Police clarified that the entire exercise, from incineration of the ganja to the burial of the syrup and recycling of plastic containers, was conducted under the framework laid out by the Narcotics Control Bureau. The step is part of a routine disposal cycle that law enforcement agencies follow once seized contraband has cleared the required legal and evidentiary processes.

SP Vows Continued Crackdown

Speaking after the destruction drive, SP Shalabh Kumar Sinha said the campaign against narcotics in the district would continue without let-up, adding that effective action would keep being taken to move society towards a drug-free environment. Police did not specify a timeline for further operations but indicated that surveillance along smuggling routes from Odisha would remain a priority.

The Tuesday operation adds to a string of similar disposal drives carried out by Bastar police in recent years, as authorities continue to grapple with cannabis trafficking through the region. With Chhattisgarh's proximity to Odisha's cannabis-growing belts, officials say sustained vigilance along inter-state routes remains central to curbing the flow of ganja into other parts of the country.

Nearly 4,000 kg of synthetic drugs, mostly methamphetamine sold as "Ice," have been seized in Mizoram's Champhai district over the last three years, exposing the northeastern state's growing role as a trafficking hub fed by its porous border with Myanmar.

Night Patrols Reflect Crisis Scale

In Aizawl, volunteers from the Young Mizo Association (YMA) now conduct nightly patrols, walking the city's streets armed with torches and wooden sticks to keep watch for drug peddlers targeting young people. Officials say the state is facing its worst-ever drug crisis, with the 500-kilometre unfenced border with Myanmar serving as an easy conduit for narcotics smuggling.

According to official data, drug abuse claimed 118 lives in Mizoram last year, while 21 deaths have already been recorded so far this year. Champhai, which directly borders Myanmar, has become the primary transit corridor, with traffickers exploiting the rugged terrain and ethnic ties that span both sides of the international boundary.

Drugs Sold Through Encrypted Chat Groups

Investigators say the trade has shifted almost entirely online. Suppliers operate through closed groups on WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook, and buyers reportedly only need to show a screenshot of group membership to access drugs. Peter Johmingthanga, Joint Commissioner of the Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department, said dealers use coded terms such as "ice" and "candy" to evade detection on these platforms.

Home delivery of narcotics has also become common in recent months, according to local social workers. Aizawl-based social worker Elin Lalawmpuii said that between April 10 and May 28 this year, she personally recorded 239 patients in Aizawl alone who had fallen victim to synthetic drugs — a number officials describe as alarming given the short timeframe. Most of these individuals previously used alcohol or marijuana but have since moved to harder synthetic substances.

Border Villages Become Smuggling Gateways

Ground visits to Champhai revealed how small-time carriers move drug consignments across forested and mountainous terrain under cover of darkness. Myanmar's Rihkhawdar area, located directly across the border, has emerged as a key staging point, with family ties between communities on both sides reportedly being exploited to facilitate movement of consignments. From Mizoram, the drugs are then routed onward to other parts of India, as well as to Bangladesh and Gulf countries, sources said.

Community-Led 'Operation Jericho' Pushes Back

With government enforcement stretched thin, civil society has stepped in. The YMA, which has around five lakh volunteers across the state, launched "Operation Jericho" in September last year in coordination with police and the narcotics department. The initiative, rooted in the Mizo tradition of "Tlawmngaihna" or selfless community service, has deployed volunteers in 13 sensitive villages across Champhai district.

Officials associated with the operation said that whenever intelligence inputs are received, joint raids are conducted with police, with victims being identified and referred to de-addiction and rehabilitation centres rather than simply being treated as offenders.

Traffickers Shift to Manipur Route

YMA's Central President R. Lalnghetha said that as Operation Jericho began disrupting traditional smuggling channels in Champhai, traffickers adapted by rerouting consignments through Manipur. Drugs are now reportedly entering India from Myanmar via Manipur before being transported onward to Mizoram and other states, indicating that the trafficking network remains agile despite increased enforcement pressure.

Road Ahead

With seizure volumes mounting and fatality numbers rising, authorities face mounting pressure to strengthen border surveillance along the Mizoram-Myanmar frontier. Community-driven initiatives like Operation Jericho have shown early results, but officials acknowledge that sustained coordination between civil society, police and narcotics enforcement will be critical to countering the shifting trafficking routes and the growing digital footprint of the drug trade in the region.

US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out a targeted military strike that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. The operation, according to Trump, was conducted in coordination with Venezuelan authorities and marks one of the most significant actions taken against the group since Washington designated it a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump described Guerrero as the head of one of the world's most dangerous criminal organizations and said the strike was executed by the United States Southern Command. The President also shared video footage that appeared to show a building being destroyed during the operation. Reuters and other international media outlets reported that Venezuelan authorities later confirmed Guerrero's death during a joint security operation.

The development comes as the Trump administration continues an aggressive campaign against transnational criminal groups accused of involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and violent crimes across the Americas.

Who Was Niño Guerrero?

Héctor Guerrero Flores was widely regarded as the leader of Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization that originated inside Venezuela's prison system and later expanded across multiple countries in Latin America. Under his leadership, the group allegedly built networks involved in narcotics trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, kidnapping, and organized crime activities.

US authorities had previously charged Guerrero with racketeering-related offenses and offered a multi-million-dollar reward for information leading to his arrest. The State Department and Treasury Department had also imposed sanctions on him and several other senior members of the organization.

Details of the Operation

According to Trump's statement, the strike was designed to eliminate Guerrero and disrupt the leadership structure of Tren de Aragua. The President said the operation was conducted with close cooperation from Venezuelan authorities, though officials in Caracas reportedly described it as a joint effort supported by intelligence sharing and technological assistance.

While details about the exact location and timing of the strike remain limited, Pentagon officials reportedly confirmed that Guerrero was killed earlier in the week during a targeted operation against the gang.

Growing Focus on Transnational Crime

The Trump administration has increasingly linked Tren de Aragua to broader concerns over border security, illegal immigration, and organized crime. Earlier this year, Washington formally designated the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, allowing authorities to expand legal and enforcement actions against its members and associates.

Administration officials have argued that the gang's activities extend beyond Venezuela and affect multiple countries across the Western Hemisphere. Security analysts describe the organization as one of the most influential criminal networks to emerge from South America in recent years.

International and Regional Implications

The reported cooperation between Washington and Venezuelan authorities has attracted attention because relations between the two countries have often been marked by political tensions. Analysts say the operation could signal limited security cooperation on issues involving organized crime and regional stability.

At the same time, experts caution that the death of a criminal leader does not necessarily dismantle an organization, as gangs often retain operational structures capable of continuing activities under new leadership.

Police in Chhattisgarh have uncovered a new interstate ganja smuggling method in which traffickers allegedly disguised themselves as roadside clothes vendors to transport narcotics across districts and states. In separate operations carried out in Mahasamund and Dhamtari districts, police seized around 378 kilograms of ganja worth nearly ₹1.90 crore and arrested 13 accused, including a minor.

According to officials, the accused travelled on motorcycles carrying bundles of clothes to avoid suspicion. During searches, police discovered specially designed hidden iron compartments installed on the bikes where ganja packets had been concealed beneath garments. Investigators said the narcotics were allegedly being transported from Odisha and supplied to other states including Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Suspicion During Checking

The first major operation was conducted by Basna police in Mahasamund district after officials received information that a group of smugglers was moving towards Chhattisgarh from Odisha carrying narcotics.

Police teams immediately set up checkpoints and intensified checking on suspected routes. After some time, five motorcycles moving in a line were spotted approaching the barricade. The riders were carrying large bundles of clothes and reportedly claimed to be travelling vendors selling garments in villages and local markets. Officials said the men were shouting slogans commonly used by roadside clothes sellers in an attempt to appear genuine. However, police grew suspicious after observing their movements and behaviour during questioning.

Secret Chambers Found

During detailed inspection of the motorcycles, police discovered specially modified iron frames and hidden compartments attached beneath the clothes bundles on the rear side of the bikes. When the garments were removed, officers found large quantities of ganja concealed inside the secret boxes. Police said the smugglers had carefully designed the structure to ensure the narcotics remained hidden during routine checking and appeared like ordinary luggage used by street vendors.

In the first operation, police seized nearly 215 kilograms of ganja and arrested five accused. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that the narcotics were brought from Baliguda area in Odisha and were being transported to Madhya Pradesh for supply.

Multiple Raids Conducted

Mahasamund police later carried out additional operations in separate areas based on further intelligence inputs. In another case, Basna police arrested three accused with around 23 kilograms of ganja valued at nearly ₹11.5 lakh. Similarly, Komakhan police intercepted another motorcycle near Temri check post and recovered around 9.6 kilograms of ganja from two riders.

Officials stated that in all the Mahasamund operations combined, police seized seven motorcycles, six mobile phones and five specially fabricated iron racks used for hiding narcotics. Police said the accused belonged to different districts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and nearby border areas.

Dhamtari Operation

A similar smuggling pattern was also uncovered in Dhamtari district, where police arrested three more accused, including a minor, from the Keregaon police station area. Officials said the accused were moving in a convoy of three motorcycles while pretending to be clothes vendors travelling through rural roads. Police recovered more than 131 kilograms of ganja during the operation.

According to investigators, the accused had also installed modified iron structures on their motorcycles to conceal the narcotics under piles of clothing. During questioning, the accused reportedly confirmed that the ganja had been sourced from Odisha.

Interstate Network Suspected

Police believe the operations exposed an organised interstate narcotics network using innovative methods to avoid detection during transportation. Investigators suspect the accused were part of a larger smuggling chain operating between Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Officials said smugglers are increasingly shifting to disguised transportation methods after stricter highway surveillance and vehicle checking measures were introduced. By using motorcycles and disguising themselves as travelling vendors, traffickers attempted to move through villages and smaller roads where checking is comparatively less intensive.

Questions Over Surveillance

The Dhamtari seizure has also raised serious questions regarding local police monitoring and border checking systems. Officials confirmed that the accused crossed multiple police station areas, including Burai, Sihawa, Nagri and Dugli, before finally being intercepted near Keregaon.

The movement of such a large quantity of ganja through several jurisdictions without interception has triggered discussions regarding intelligence coordination and routine checking systems. Residents and local observers questioned how the traffickers managed to travel across multiple checkpoints despite carrying narcotics in large quantities.

Police Investigation Continues

Police officials stated that interrogation of the arrested accused is continuing to identify other members of the network involved in transportation and distribution. Authorities are also investigating whether local support systems or supply contacts existed in Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states. Officials indicated that additional raids may be conducted based on information gathered during questioning. The operations are being seen as a significant breakthrough in tackling organised narcotics trafficking in the region.

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Raipur Police Bust Nigeria-Linked Drug Racket, 2 Held in Delhi

Nigeria-linked drug racket exposed as cocaine was shipped to Raipur in BP machine boxes; two accused, including a Nigerian national, arrested

A cross-border drug trafficking network with links to Nigeria has been unearthed by the Raipur Police, with two key accused arrested from Delhi earlier this week. Investigators say the racket involved smuggling cocaine concealed inside blood pressure (BP) machine boxes and delivering it through courier channels to avoid detection.

The arrests, made on May 2, mark a significant development in an ongoing crackdown on synthetic drugs supply chains extending into Chhattisgarh.

Cocaine hidden in devices

According to officials, the accused used seemingly innocuous medical equipment packaging to transport cocaine. The contraband was hidden inside BP machine boxes, a tactic that helped the parcels pass routine scrutiny during transit.

Initial findings suggest the consignments were dispatched from Delhi to Raipur and possibly other cities using courier services. “The packaging was designed to avoid suspicion,” an official familiar with the investigation said.

Breakthrough from March arrest

The case traces back to March 19, when police arrested a local suspect near a private hospital in Raipur’s Devendra Nagar area. He was found carrying 4.55 grams of cocaine, valued at over ₹2.27 lakh.

Subsequent searches led to the seizure of a vehicle and a mobile phone, with the total recovery in that case pegged at more than ₹20 lakh. During questioning, the accused reportedly revealed links to a wider supply chain.

Technical analysis and interrogation pointed towards an organised network operating beyond state boundaries.

Delhi operation and arrests

Acting on these leads, a Raipur police team travelled to Delhi and conducted a raid in Tilak Nagar. Two accused — identified as Sunny Sharma and Tochukwu Afame, also known as Prince Charles — were taken into custody.

Afame, a Nigerian national, is believed to have direct links with handlers operating from Nigeria. Police records indicate he had previously been jailed in Delhi in 2024–25 for visa violations.

Investigators say both accused admitted to being part of an international drug syndicate during questioning.

Network run from abroad

Sources said the operation was being coordinated by an personidentified as “Chichi”, believed to be based in Nigeria. He allegedly managed logistics and supply routes, while local operatives in India handled payments and distribution.

Sunny Sharma’s role, according to officials, involved facilitating financial transactions. He allegedly allowed his bank accounts to be used for routing drug money in exchange for commission.

Authorities are now tracking these financial trails to identify other members of the network.

Seizures and financial trail

During the Delhi operation, police seized cash amounting to ₹9.70 lakh, along with five iPhones, three cheque books, and other items. The total value of the recovered material is estimated at around ₹11 lakh.

Officials believe the network has handled transactions worth over ₹2 crore in the past six months. These figures are based on preliminary scrutiny of bank accounts linked to the accused.

Wider crackdown underway

The Anti Crime and Cyber Unit of Raipur Police has intensified its operations against narcotics this year. In 2026 alone, 93 accused have been arrested in 36 cases registered under the NDPS Act.

Police say the latest thing has dealt a major blow to an “end-to-end” cocaine supply chain. However, they also acknowledge that further arrests may follow as the investigation expands.

Case registered, probe continues

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act at Devendra Nagar police station. Officials said efforts are on to identify additional links in other states and trace the full extent of the network.

The Nigeria-linked drug racket remains under active investigation, with agencies focusing on courier routes, digital communications, and financial transactions tied to the accused.