Ahmedabad: The Special Operations Group (SOG) arrested a 25-year-old man after allegedly seizing 672 grams of hybrid ganja worth Rs 23.5 lakh from a house in Krishnanagar late on Thursday night, police said.Acting on a tip-off, an SOG team raided a residence near Shivam Vidyalaya in Saijpur-Bogha on Aug 14. The suspect, identified as Rahul Gade, was present at the house during the operation, police said.During the search, officers allegedly recovered five zip-lock pouches containing a greenish-brown substance suspected to be hybrid ganja. According to the seizure panchnama, two larger packets contained 544 grams of the substance, while three smaller packets contained another 128 grams.A forensic science laboratory (FSL) officer conducted a preliminary examination of the substance at the SOG office and indicated that it appeared to be ganja. Samples were preserved and sent for detailed analysis.Police also recovered Rs 20.9 lakh in cash from a fingerprint-protected locker inside the house. According to the FIR, Gade was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of money.The total value of the seized contraband, cash, and two mobile phones was estimated at Rs 45.3 lakh. Police also seized three digital weighing scales and 23 empty zip-lock pouches allegedly used for packaging.During interrogation, Gade allegedly told investigators that he had procured the ganja from an Ahmedabad resident Banni Bhatia and had stored it at his residence for retail distribution. Police have named Bhatia as a suspect and are probing his alleged role in the supply network.The SOG registered a case against Gade and the alleged supplier under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
