New Delhi/Ahmedabad: A dark narcotics trade was concealed behind an innocent-looking consignment of fruit, but the smugglers’ ploy could not escape the keen eye of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Acting on a tip-off, the NCB’s Ahmedabad Zonal Unit seized 523.450 kg of ganja (cannabis). The court has convicted two accused in the case, sentencing each to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. A fine of ₹1 lakh has also been imposed on each of them.
The incident dates back to June 9, 2022. NCB officials received credible information regarding the interstate transport of a large consignment of ganja to Gujarat. Upon receiving the information, the team set up surveillance near Mithila Industries in Lindiad village, Mangrol, in Gujarat’s Surat district. The NCB team kept a close watch for suspicious activity. During the operation, goods were being transferred from a Tata truck to a Mahindra Bolero pickup vehicle. The NCB team swooped in, apprehended both accused, and began searching the vehicles. The search revealed the full extent of the drug smuggling network: a total of 523.450 kg of ganja was recovered, packed into 101 packets across 17 plastic sacks.
Multi-Crore Drug Racket Hidden Beneath Pineapples
The smugglers had devised a cunning method to conceal the ganja and evade the NCB and law enforcement. The sacks of ganja were hidden beneath a consignment of pineapples so that, at first glance, the vehicle appeared to be a standard fruit-transporting truck. However, the NCB’s intelligence-led surveillance and vigilance thwarted the smugglers’ entire plan. As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that this was not a minor smuggling incident but an organized conspiracy involving the interstate supply and illegal sale of cannabis from Odisha to Gujarat. The accused were found to play significant roles within this network.
Court Verdict After Four Years: The Law Tightens Its Grip on Smugglers
Upon completing a detailed investigation, the NCB filed a prosecution complaint under various sections of the NDPS Act, 1985, before the Hon’ble Additional District and Sessions Court in Surat. Legal proceedings and hearings followed. Delivering its verdict on October 3, 2026, the court convicted both accused—Sheikh Aqeel Sheikh (a resident of Malegaon, Maharashtra) and Ayaz Sheikh (a resident of Surat, Gujarat). The court sentenced both individuals to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each.
The Campaign Against Drug Networks Will Continue Until the Final Blow
The conviction in this case is viewed as a significant achievement for the NCB. From gathering intelligence and conducting surveillance to taking action, making seizures, investigating, and effectively arguing the case in court, the comprehensive efforts of the NCB Ahmedabad Zonal Unit ensured the smugglers were brought to justice. The NCB has made it clear that its campaign to dismantle interstate drug trafficking networks active across the country will continue unabated. The NCB has also appealed to the public to share any information regarding the sale, transportation, or trade of narcotics via ‘MANAS’—the National Narcotics Helpline toll-free number 1933. The identity of informants is kept strictly confidential.
