MUMBAI: The Maharashtra state excise has seized 414 kg marijuana stock worth Rs 1.14 crore, probably one of the largest one-time confiscations of ganja in the recent past.
Following a tip-off, the flying squad of the excise department at Panvel intercepted an SuV near a welding works facility at Taloja sector 40 on Panvel-Mumbra highway on Wednesday and seized the stock.
Accused named Aarif Zakir Sheikh, aged 25 and Parvez Babuali Sheikh (29), both hailing from Sion Koliwada were arrested along with 27 white gunny bags containing 414 kg of ganja worth Rs 1,13,90,000.
The arrest has been made under the NDPS Act and the excise police is suspecting an international racket behind the operations given the quantity and sophistication with which the illegal trade was being managed.
The team of Raigad-Alibaug excise led by inspector R D Patne conducted the action under the guideance of senior excise officials Prasad Surve, Pradeep Pawar, and R R Kole led by excise commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi.
According to sources over the last three years Rs 12.5 crore worth of ganja has been seized by the Mumbai police with 2021 registering a seizure worth Rs 7.41 crore, followed by Rs 3 cr and 2.08 crore in the years 2022 and 2023.