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.

Bhind Ganja Smuggling Ring Runs Like a Company; B-Team Takes Over After A-Team Bust

Police in Bhind have uncovered the second layer of a well-organised inter-state ganja smuggling network operating on a corporate-style model with clearly defined roles, profit-sharing, and even a dedicated fund for legal aid. In a joint operation by Barohi and Dehat police stations, two members of the so-called B-Team were arrested late on Tuesday with 138 kg of ganja valued at around ₹28 lakh.

The arrests have once again highlighted how the gang quickly adapted after its first team was dismantled in December last year. Officials say the network treated smuggling like a business enterprise, complete with managers, financiers, storekeepers, and suppliers.

A-Team Dismantled in December Raid

The story began in December when Barohi police, led by Station House Officer Atul Bhadauria, intercepted a suspicious Hyundai car near Madanpura Dam. The driver tried to flee through a kutcha road but was chased and caught. A search yielded 22.2 kg of ganja.

Those arrested included Rajendra Baghel of BTI Road, Bhind, Pankaj Shukla of Barohi, and Rajkumar Sharma from Surpura. Pankaj Shukla was believed to be running the operation using a structured “company model”. Another key member, Majnu alias Shivam Sharma from Aryanagar, managed to escape initially but was later arrested after a few months.

B-Team Activated to Keep Business Running

With the main operatives behind bars, Majnu, who had been on the run, reportedly activated the backup B-Team to ensure the trade did not stop. Sources familiar with the investigation said he brought in new people and assigned specific responsibilities to minimise risk and maintain continuity.

Anup Sharma alias Anna was roped in as the financier. According to preliminary questioning, the financier was to get nearly 50 percent of the profits and was also responsible for arranging bail if any member was caught. A separate budget was maintained from each consignment for legal expenses, including efforts to secure bail for those already in jail.

Rishabh Chauhan was tasked with arranging vehicles, while others handled storage and new supplier contacts. The gang shifted to greater caution this time, using luxury cars in a convoy system and code words such as “maal” or “jadi-buti” during communication.

New Hideout and Sophisticated Tactics

Investigators revealed that the B-Team set up a fresh storage point in Kumhroua area. Abhishek Tiwari of Aryanagar was given charge of the “godown”. He allegedly rented a relative’s house for ₹10,000 per month and, with help from Anshul Bouhre, used it to store the contraband.

The gang sourced ganja from Odisha, where it was procured at around ₹5,000 per kg. It was then sold to agents in Bhind and nearby areas at up to ₹20,000 per kg, reaching ₹25,000 in retail. Police said suppliers from Odisha sometimes ensured safe delivery up to the Chhattisgarh border.

To avoid detection on the road, the gang used a “follow car” system. One vehicle with 3-4 members would travel 2-3 km ahead to scout for police presence and relay information to the carrier vehicle behind it.

Latest Seizure and Ongoing Hunt

In the latest action, police arrested Abhishek Tiwari and Anshul Bouhre. The 138 kg ganja recovered is believed to be part of a larger 200 kg consignment, of which around 40 kg had already been sold. Interrogation has provided fresh leads on the wider network.

Barohi SHO Atul Bhadauria confirmed that the arrested duo belongs to the B-Team of the same gang busted earlier. “Their questioning has opened several links of the network. We have identified four members of the B-Team so far,” he said.

Those still absconding include financier Anup Sharma alias Anna, Mangu, and Rishabh Chauhan. Police teams are actively searching for them.

Impact on Local Drug Trade

This structured operation allowed the gang to run the illegal trade with minimal disruption even after major arrests. By dividing roles and creating contingency plans, including financial provisions for legal battles, the network tried to function like any legitimate business with risk management.

Local authorities noted that such organised models make enforcement challenging as new layers quickly replace arrested members. The seizures, however, have dealt a significant blow to the supply chain in the region.

Police said further investigation is underway to trace the money trail, more hideouts, and upstream suppliers in Odisha. Cases under the NDPS Act have been registered, and efforts are on to dismantle the remaining links of both A and B teams.

The development comes at a time when authorities in Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring states continue to step up vigil against the inflow of ganja from eastern regions.

Operation Nishchay Nets 46 Wanted Criminals Across Raipur Range

Chhattisgarh Police Deploy 95 Teams in Five Districts, Seize Drugs, Liquor, and Weapons in Sweeping Two-Day Crackdown

In one of the most coordinated law enforcement drives in recent months, the Raipur Range Police executed a sweeping two-day crackdown under Operation Nishchay, targeting criminal networks across five districts of Chhattisgarh. The joint operation, conducted on April 4 and 5, mobilised 95 teams simultaneously across Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, and Raipur Rural districts.

Scale of the Operation

A total of 384 raids, searches, and checkpost operations were carried out over the 48-hour window. The sheer scale of the deployment signals the Raipur Range's intent to dismantle entrenched criminal activity in both urban fringes and rural belts. According to police officials, the operation was planned with prior intelligence inputs and coordinated at the range headquarters level.

Liquor and Drugs Seized

The drive yielded significant recoveries on the narcotics and liquor front. Under the Excise Act, 126 cases were registered and an equal number of accused were taken into custody. Seized liquor stocks amounted to 802.436 litres of country and foreign liquor, along with 597 quarter bottles.

On the narcotics front, 22 NDPS Act cases were filed, with police recovering 21.945 kilograms of contraband substances and 60 tablets suspected to be psychotropic drugs. Ganja formed a bulk of the seized narcotic material, as per reports from district units.

Weapons Recovered, Warrants Served

Six cases were registered under the Arms Act, with police seizing two pistols during the course of the operation. The recovery of firearms from civilians in rural districts has been flagged as a priority concern in the range's anti-crime strategy.

Parallel to the seizures, a dedicated warrant execution drive was run alongside the raids. Teams served a combined 46 warrants — comprising 31 arrest warrants, 14 permanent warrants, and 1 bailable warrant — leading to the apprehension of 46 wanted individuals who had been evading the law.

District-Wise Breakdown

Each district contributed significantly to the overall tally:

• Balodabazar-Bhatapara — 13 NDPS cases filed; 5.6 kg of narcotics seized

• Gariaband — 119 raids conducted; 158 litres of liquor recovered

• Dhamtari — 150 locations covered; 3.9 kg of contraband seized

• Mahasamund — 10.5 kg of drugs and 357 litres of liquor recovered

• Raipur Rural — 1.8 kg of ganja and 597 quarter bottles seized

Additionally, 174 actions were taken under various preventive and prohibitory sections.

Gambling Rackets Busted

Two cases were also registered under the Gambling Act, with seven accused arrested and cash amounting to ₹6,230 seized from illegal betting and gambling dens. Four separate criminal cases were also pursued by respective district units as part of the broader operation.

Official Statement

Police officials confirmed that Operation Nishchay is not a one-time exercise. "The drive against anti-social elements, smugglers, and absconders will continue with equal intensity," a senior officer said, adding that maintaining law and order across the Raipur Range remains the department's foremost priority.

What Comes Next

Authorities indicated that further crackdowns are planned based on leads generated during this operation. With dozens of wanted persons now in custody and substantial contraband off the streets, investigators are expected to pursue leads that could unravel larger supply chains behind drug trafficking in the region. The operation is being seen as a template for future range-level coordinated drives across Chhattisgarh.

Raipur Police Bust Inter-State Cannabis Racket, Seize 22 kg Ganja Worth ₹11 Lakh

Seven arrested including two women and a minor; gang was smuggling cannabis from Odisha to Madhya Pradesh via Chhattisgarh capital

Gang Caught Red-Handed

Raipur police dismantled an inter-state drug smuggling network on Wednesday after arresting seven individuals — including two women and a minor — found carrying over 22 kilograms of cannabis near Telghani Naka in the Ganj police station area of the state capital.

The operation, carried out on the evening of April 2, follows a tip-off received by local police about a group loitering near the naka with bags suspected to contain contraband.

Tip-Off Led to Quick Action

According to police officials, a confidential informant alerted the Ganj police station that several individuals were standing near Telghani Naka with loaded bags, apparently waiting to move to another location.

A police team was immediately deployed to cordon off the area. Upon conducting a search, officers recovered ganja from the personal bags of all seven individuals on the spot.

Accused Named, Odisha Links Confirmed

The arrested accused have been identified as Shantanu Malik, Romeo Malik, Juliet Malik, Rahul Malik, Rashmita Digal, and Deepa Digal — all residents of Odisha — along with one juvenile whose identity has not been disclosed given their age.

Sources indicated that the group had procured the cannabis from Odisha and was in the process of transporting it to Madhya Pradesh when they were intercepted in Raipur.

Over ₹11 Lakh in Contraband Seized

Police seized a total of 22.450 kilograms of ganja from the accused, with the street value of the seized consignment estimated at approximately ₹11.22 lakh.

The recovery was made from individual bags carried by each member of the group, suggesting a deliberate distribution of the contraband to avoid detection at checkpoints.

NDPS Act Invoked

Cases have been registered against all seven accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Ganj police station. All arrested individuals are currently in police custody and are being questioned to uncover the full extent of the trafficking network.

As per reports, investigators are working to identify other members connected to this supply chain — both at the source end in Odisha and the distribution end in Madhya Pradesh.

Officials Vow Continued Crackdown

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Cyber), Smritik Rajnala, confirmed that the crackdown on drug trafficking operations will continue without pause.

"Action against those running narcotics trade will remain relentless," the DCP stated, adding that the identities of other associates linked to this gang are being established and arrests are expected soon.

What Comes Next

This latest bust is part of a sustained anti-narcotics drive by Raipur police targeting inter-state drug corridors passing through Chhattisgarh. The state, positioned between Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, has increasingly been flagged as a transit route for cannabis smuggling networks.

Officials are expected to seek police remand of the accused to trace the supplier network back to its origin in Odisha. Further arrests in connection with this case remain likely as interrogation continues, according to sources close to the investigation. The case has been forwarded for judicial proceedings under the NDPS Act.

Durg Drug Network Busted: 3 New Arrests as Chhattisgarh Police Crack Down on State-Wide Opium Racket

The arrests signal that the Durg drug probe is widening — and investigators are closing in on the people at the top of the supply chain.

The Latest Arrests

Durg Police have arrested three new accused in connection with the ongoing drug network investigation — the latest development in a case that has grown from a single farm raid into one of Chhattisgarh's most significant narcotics busts in years.

The fresh arrests come weeks after Durg police raided a field in Samoda village on March 6, 2026, and found 4–5 acres of opium cultivation hidden behind maize plants — the first opium case ever registered in Durg district. What looked like a routine agricultural raid quickly became something far larger.

How Big Is This Network?

The three new accused are not isolated players. They are pieces of a cross-state supply chain that investigators are still mapping in full.

Across Durg and Balrampur districts, three separate illegal opium cultivation cases have now been registered, with approximately a dozen people arrested for farming opium worth crores of rupees.

The network doesn't stop at Chhattisgarh's borders either. Investigators have uncovered a disturbing cross-state operation that rents tribal farmland to grow poppies — with people from Jharkhand renting land from local farmers, and a Rajasthan-based seed supplier arrested in connection with the wider network.

In plain terms: Rajasthan supplies the seeds. Jharkhand provides the operators. And Chhattisgarh's remote farmland provides the cover.

The Political Dimension

What sets the Durg drug network case apart from a standard NDPS bust is its political undercurrent.

The land where the opium was cultivated is registered in the names of individuals reportedly related to a former BJP Kisan Morcha district president. The BJP moved quickly to suspend him after the story went public. But the opposition is not satisfied.

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel publicly questioned why the Chief Minister and Home Minister remained silent — calling the opium cultivation a case of criminal activity operating under political protection.

Scale of the Seizure

The numbers are staggering. The operation covered over 5 acres of land protected by bouncers posted at the farm. In digital land records, the land had been falsely entered as wheat and maize cultivation. Police seized opium plants estimated to be worth approximately ₹7.88 crore.

And this is just one of four farms now busted. In the span of just over two weeks, four separate illegal opium farms have been dismantled across Chhattisgarh — spanning multiple districts and involving actors ranging from ordinary farmers to political functionaries.

What Investigators Must Do Next

Three more arrests are progress — but not the finish line. Police must now answer three critical questions: who was financing the cultivation at scale, where was the processed opium headed, and whether more farms are still operating under similar cover in neighbouring districts.

Unless the full financial and logistical network — the Jharkhand operators, the Rajasthan seed suppliers, the local facilitators, and any political connections — is prosecuted to its conclusion under the NDPS Act, this story will not end in Durg. It will simply move to the next remote forest district.

Chhattisgarh's drug emergency is real, documented, and spreading. The three new arrests matter. What matters more is where the investigation goes from here.

Chhattisgarh's "Dhaan Ka Katora" Is Growing Something Else: How Opium Farms Are Reshaping State Politics

Chhattisgarh built its identity as India's rice bowl — the dhaan ka katora. But in March 2026, it is finding itself in the middle of a crisis it did not see coming: illegal opium farming spreading from its western districts to its eastern tribal belts, touching a BJP leader's farmhouse in Durg, an obscure forest village in Balrampur, and — with explosive political consequences — the floor of the state assembly itself.

This is not a single isolated incident. It is a pattern. And the fight over who is responsible — and who protected it — has consumed Chhattisgarh's political class for the last ten days.

How It Started: A YouTube Video and a BJP Leader's Farm in Durg

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel visited the site on March 7 along with local Congress leaders to inspect the area and highlight the issue — and his social media posts, carrying photographs of poppy plants in a BJP leader's farm, spread across YouTube and WhatsApp with devastating speed. Within 48 hours of the raid, a BJP leader was suspended, a former Chief Minister had visited the site, and the Chhattisgarh Assembly was reverberating with Congress demands for the Home Minister's resignation. Wikipedia

The BJP leader at the centre of the Durg case is Vinayak Tamrakar, associated with the BJP Kisan Morcha. Baghel had posted on social media that Tamrakar was allegedly growing opium on a 10-acre field in village Samoda, Durg district, describing him as a man of considerable local influence. Al Jazeera Police subsequently arrested Tamrakar after the story went viral and could no longer be contained.

Balrampur: The Opium Trail Moves East

Just as the Durg scandal was simmering, a second case emerged — this time in Balrampur's Kusmi block, one of the most remote and forested corners of Chhattisgarh, bordering Jharkhand.

On March 10, 2026, acting on a tip-off, a joint team of police and district administration reached the Sarna Toli area under Tripuri Gram Panchayat in Kusmi block. Initial investigation confirmed that illegal opium was being cultivated on more than two acres of land. The area was immediately taken into custody and the relevant narcotics agencies were alerted. Zee News

A large quantity of dried poppy pods — some already incised for opium extraction — was recovered. Preliminary investigation revealed that the cultivation was being carried out by people from Jharkhand, who had rented the land from local farmers Rupdev Bhagat and Kaushal Bhagat. Villagers told police they knew opium was being grown but were unaware it was illegal — and came forward only after seeing the Durg case in the news. The Washington Post

A separate raid near Khajuri Panchayat's Turripani village in Balrampur revealed approximately two and a half to three acres of additional illegal opium cultivation, with a joint police and revenue department team seizing the crop and launching an investigation. Bloomberg

In total, multiple sites across Balrampur district are now under investigation — with the Jharkhand border geography making the case particularly complex, as cultivators can operate in the forest zone and retreat across the state line.

The Night Watch: Collector and SP Stand Guard Over the Fields

The administration's response in Balrampur was swift and visible. When the Balrampur Collector Rajendra Katara and Superintendent of Police reached the site and saw the thriving opium crop for themselves, they were visibly stunned. The fields were placed under overnight watch, with police conducting night-long surveillance, before the formal seizure and destruction of the crop was carried out on Wednesday morning with samples taken as evidence. NBC News

Collector Katara told media that as soon as the cultivation was confirmed, all departments were coordinated immediately and the crop was taken into custody before legal proceedings began. He stated clearly that illegal opium cultivation will not be tolerated anywhere in the state.

Bhupesh Baghel's Political Offensive

Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has made this issue his primary weapon against the Vishnu Deo Sai government — and he is using social media with surgical precision.

The sarpanch of the Balrampur village told police that he had informed them about the opium cultivation as far back as January — but no action was taken for nearly two months. Windward Baghel seized on this immediately, posting that the administration and government were trying to suppress the story entirely and demanding that the home department stop pressuring police officers and allow them to speak freely and share information with the media.

Baghel went further on March 10, alleging that the drug trade — including opium and dry narcotics — is being run in a planned manner under the protection of the Chief Minister and Home Minister. He said the Durg BJP leader who was caught growing opium had not even been designated the main accused by the Vishnu Deo Sai government. Wionews

Congress has also taken the attack into the assembly. The Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed noisy scenes with the Opposition Congress demanding a discussion on opium cultivation in a BJP leader's land in Durg district. The Speaker rejected their adjournment motion, provoking Congress MLAs to march to the Well of the House in protest — leading to the automatic suspension of 29 Congress MLAs. Wikipedia

The BJP's Counter: Action Is Ongoing, Opposition Is Politicising

The ruling BJP has not taken the attacks lying down. State Minister Rajesh Agrawal responded directly to Baghel's allegations, stating that continuous action is being taken against those involved in the drug trade and that no one will be spared regardless of political affiliation.

The government points to the swift police action in both Durg and Balrampur as evidence that the administration is functioning independently — and argues that the arrests and seizures themselves prove there is no political protection at the systemic level. The suspension of Vinayak Tamrakar from the BJP Kisan Morcha following the Durg raid was positioned as evidence of zero tolerance.

The Bigger Picture: Why Is Illegal Opium Farming Growing in Chhattisgarh?

This question deserves a direct answer — and it goes beyond politics.

Chhattisgarh's tribal belt districts, particularly those bordering Jharkhand, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh, have long been vulnerable to illegal cultivation of narcotics due to a combination of dense forest cover, limited administrative reach, low awareness of drug laws among tribal communities, and the involvement of outside networks who exploit local land.

The Balrampur case is textbook: Jharkhand-based operators rented tribal farmland, used a forest water source for irrigation, and grew the crop in a border zone where policing is difficult and awareness is low. Villagers only realised it was illegal after watching news coverage of the Durg case.

This is not a law and order failure alone — it is a civic awareness and administrative penetration failure in the state's most remote zones.

The Bottom Line

Chhattisgarh has two overlapping crises on its hands. The first is a genuine and growing narcotics challenge — illegal opium cultivation spreading from established farmland in Durg to tribal forest zones in Balrampur, with a Jharkhand-linked network that clearly predates the current political controversy.

The second is a political firestorm that the BJP is struggling to contain — with a former Chief Minister personally visiting drug fields, 29 Congress MLAs suspended from the assembly over it, and daily social media posts keeping the pressure relentless.

Both crises demand the same thing: fast, transparent, politically neutral action. Seizures and overnight surveillance are the right start. But unless the networks behind the cultivation — the Jharkhand operators, the local facilitators, and any political connections — are fully prosecuted under the NDPS Act, this story will not end in Balrampur.

It will only move to the next district.