Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 11: Anti-Narcotics Police arrested a 27-year-old West Bengal resident at Sri Vijaya Puram after allegedly recovering 2.265 kg of ganja from his trolley bag at the VSI Airport complex on September 11. Police intercepted Satyajit Mondal after receiving information that he would arrive from Kolkata carrying illicit ganja concealed in his luggage for the purpose of striking a deal in Andaman.
The Anti-Narcotics Police Station received the information at about 9:10 am and recorded it in GD Entry No. 09 dated September 11. The information was immediately conveyed to Sunil Panchal, DANIPS, Dy.SP (Narcotics), through Secret Note No. SHO/ANPS/2026/1014. Acting on his direction, a raiding team was formed and proceeded to VSI Airport at 9:50 am in government vehicle AN01-F-0019, carrying an investigation kit, electronic weighing machine, Drug Detection Kit and investigation documents.
The team intercepted Mondal near the parking area of the old airport terminal close to the exit gate of VSI Airport, Lamba Line, after an informer identified him. Mondal, son of Pratap Mondal, was carrying a trolley bag and backpack.
Two independent witnesses, D Papa Rao, 22, a private driver, and Suman Mondal, 41, a travel agent, were present during the search and seizure proceedings after agreeing to witness the operation.
Police searched Mondal’s luggage after informing him that they had reason to believe that narcotic substances were concealed inside. During the search of the trolley bag, a white plastic carry bag containing dry leaves with flower shoots and a distinct odour was recovered. Police said the substance appeared to be ganja and that a preliminary examination using a Drug Detection Kit confirmed it as ganja.
The recovered substance was transferred to another white plastic bag and weighed in the presence of the witnesses. Police recorded the weight as 2.265 kg.
At 11:05 am, police seized the ganja, the white plastic carry bag and the Aristocat trolley bag bearing an intact Air India Express luggage tag, flight and PNR details. The seized articles were sealed at the spot with a brass seal marked “KBJ”, with the seal subsequently handed over to witness D Papa Rao.
Mondal was arrested at 11:25 am under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, 1985. Police conveyed the information and grounds of his arrest to his brother, Prosanjit Mondal, over phone.
The search and seizure proceedings were recorded through the E-Sakshya App by ASI Surya Narayan. The police team returned to the Anti-Narcotics Police Station at about 11:50 am, where the seized articles were deposited in the station’s Malkhana through Form-1 as per procedure.
