Thane crime branch arrests man with 638kg marijuana

The accused has been identified as Chinna Tagur Laxman Nayak, a resident of Mehabubnagar district in Telangana, who would often ferry the drugs from Odisha and Telangana to the city

THANE: The Thane crime branch has arrested a 36-year-old man and seized 638 kg of marijuana worth about ₹2.04 crore during an operation on December 30.

Thane, India - January -01, 2026: ÊThe Crime Branch Unit, Thane City Police, has arrested an accused involved in the smuggling of narcotic substances from Odisha / Andhra Pradesh. Based on confidential information received by Police Constable Jaykar Jadhav, a trap was laid on 30/12/2025 at around 6:15 pm on the service road near Kapurbawdi Naka, Thane, about 100 meters ahead towards Thane. During the operation, an Indigo car bearing registration number AP-09-BF-9382 was intercepted. Upon inspection, the police seized ganja weighing 638 kilograms, which was being illegally transported from Odisha and Telangana (Andhra Pradesh region). The seized ganja is valued at ?2,04,16,000, and the Indigo car used in the crime is valued at ?10,00,000. The total value of the seized material is ?2,14,16,000. The accused has been identified as Isam alias Chinna Tiger Lakshman Nayak (age 36), resident of Gajulaya Tanda, Kamanur village, Markapur taluka, Medak district, Telangana / Andhra Pradesh. He has been arrested on the spot. A case has been registered at Thane Police Station under Crime No. 958/2025 under sections 8(c), 20(b), and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985. The accused has been remanded to police custody till 03/01/2026, and further investigation is underway. Ê,in Thane ,in Mumbai, India, on, Thursday, January -01, 2026. ( Praful Gangurde / HT Photo)

The accused has been identified as Chinna Tagur Laxman Nayak, a resident of Mehabubnagar district in Telangana, who would often ferry the drugs from Odisha and Telangana to the city.

Acting on a tip-off, the property cell of the crime branch learned that a large drug consignment was being brought to Thane. A trap was laid at Kharegaon toll naka in Kalwa on the Mumbai–Nashik highway, and the police intercepted an Innova and found 638 kg of ganja hidden inside the vehicle. The drugs are estimated to be worth ₹2.04 crore in the illicit market.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused was part of a larger drug network operating across multiple states. The police also noted that several such narcotics seizures have been made in and around Thane in recent months, pointing to rising demand, especially in high-income residential pockets in the region.

Commenting on the arrest, Amarsinh Jadhav, deputy commissioner of police (Crime), Thane, told HT, “Our team is investigating further to identify the source of the contraband and the individual to whom the consignment was to be delivered. We suspect that an entire gang is operating in the region, and we will soon trace the remaining members.”

The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He was produced before a local court and has been remanded to police custody till January 3.