Nagpur: In one of the biggest narcotics busts in recent months, the Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Cell smashed a suspected drug distribution link operating in the heart of Nagpur and seized mephedrone (MD) powder worth over Rs 1 crore late Friday night, exposing what police believe is part of a wider inter-state supply chain.
Midnight trap, crores at stake
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Feb 14th, 2026 - Time 11.45Hrs
Acting on precise intelligence inputs, sleuths of the Anti-Narcotics Squad laid a calculated trap under the Ganeshpeth police limits around 11.10 pm on February 13. The tip-off was specific: A man would arrive near Abhyankar Bhavan at Subhash Road, Rajaram Devi Chowk to deliver a large quantity of MD.
Officers fanned out silently in the area, keeping watch. Minutes later, a suspect riding a moped entered the spot, unaware that he was walking into a police net.
He was intercepted and identified as 51-year-old Sanjay Ramprasad Gangwani, a resident of Ganeshpeth.
Half a kilo of MD recovered
In the presence of panch witnesses, police searched the moped’s dickey, and what they found stunned even seasoned officers. A staggering 512 grams of mephedrone (MD) powder was recovered.
According to officials, the seized contraband is valued at approximately Rs 1,02,40,000 in the illegal market, a haul significant enough to disrupt a major distribution chain in the region.
Along with the narcotics, police seized three mobile phones, a helmet and Rs 41,000 in cash. The total value of seized material stands at Rs 1,03,82,000.
Indore connection surfaces
During interrogation, Gangwani allegedly disclosed that the consignment was routed from Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The drugs were reportedly sent for city-level distribution by a wanted accomplice through a private travel agency courier service, pointing towards a structured and organised supply network.
Police suspect that the accused was preparing to push the consignment into the local market for substantial financial gains.
NDPS case registered
A case has been registered at Ganeshpeth Police Station under Sections 8(c), 22(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act. The accused has been formally arrested and handed over to the local police along with the seized property.
Investigators are now tracking the Indore-based suspect and probing possible links to a larger interstate narcotics racket. Officials hinted that more arrests could follow as the supply chain is being mapped.
The high-impact operation was carried out under the supervision of Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP (Detection) Rahul Maknikar and ACP (Crime Branch) Abhijit Patil.
The crackdown was executed by Police Inspector Gajanan Gulhane and his Anti-Narcotics Cell team, delivering what officials describe as a “major blow” to the city’s underground drug trade.
With half a kilo of synthetic narcotics off the streets, the bust marks a sharp warning to traffickers operating in and around Nagpur: The net is tightening.
