Sri Vijaya Puram | March 16, 2026
Demonstrating its continued crackdown on drug trafficking in the Islands, the Anti-Narcotics Police Station (ANPS) of Andaman & Nicobar Police has arrested a man from Kolkata in connection with a narcotics trafficking case involving the seizure of over seven kilograms of ganja earlier this year.
According to police, on January 29, 2026, at around 10 a.m., the Anti-Narcotics Police Station received credible intelligence that a suspicious parcel sent anonymously from Kolkata through a private courier service had reached a courier godown in Sri Vijaya Puram. The parcel was suspected to contain contraband substances.
Acting swiftly on the information, a raiding team from ANPS was constituted after completing the necessary legal formalities. The team proceeded to the courier godown along with independent witnesses and examined the consignment records.
During verification, officers found that the consignment comprised three parcels containing a refrigerator, mixer grinder jars, and a sound bar. The parcels were opened in the presence of witnesses and police officials. During inspection of the refrigerator, seven packets wrapped in brown adhesive tape were discovered concealed inside.
On examination, the packets were found to contain a dry leafy substance with flowering tops emitting the characteristic smell of ganja. The substance was tested using a field testing kit, which confirmed the presence of ganja.
Police said the packets were weighed individually and the total quantity of ganja seized was 7.365 kilograms. The contraband was seized along with the items used for concealment, including the refrigerator, sound bar and mixer grinder, following due legal procedures.
Based on the seizure, FIR No. 01/2026 dated January 29, 2026, was registered at the Anti-Narcotics Police Station under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, 1985, and an investigation was launched.
During the course of the technical investigation, police traced the accused as Haripada Mondal (34), son of Chandipada Mondal, a resident of Amlamethi, Dighirpar Para, Gosaba in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
A police team comprising SI A. Santhosh, PC Raja Rao and PC Anup Das, under the supervision of Inspector K. Binoj, SHO of ANPS, proceeded to Kolkata on March 10, 2026. After sustained efforts, the team apprehended the accused from Kolkata and brought him to Sri Vijaya Puram by air on March 16.
Police said the accused will be produced before the court to seek police custody remand for further interrogation in order to identify other associates involved in the narcotics network and to trace the financial trail linked to the trafficking of the contraband.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Dy.SP (Narcotics) Yogita Sharma, DANIPS, and the overall supervision of DIG (CID) Jitendra Kumar Meena, IPS.
Andaman & Nicobar Police have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to drug trafficking or substance abuse. Information can be shared with the police through the emergency helpline 112 or by contacting 234216, 9476022992, or 9531856080.
