Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug 22: The Anti-Narcotics Police Station (ANPS) of the Andaman and Nicobar Police has secured a conviction in a two-year-old narcotics case involving the seizure of 655 grams of ganja from a passenger at Veer Savarkar International Airport.
The accused, Bhagabati Mistri, 46, was convicted on August 12, 2026, by the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, South Andaman, bringing to a close the prosecution arising from FIR No. 09/2024, registered on July 12, 2024, under Section 20(b)(ii)(A) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
According to the police, the case originated from specific intelligence received by the Anti-Narcotics Police Station at around 11 am on July 12, 2024. The information allegedly indicated that Mistri, a resident of West Bengal who was then residing at Hutbay, would arrive in Port Blair from Kolkata on a Vistara flight and was carrying ganja concealed in her luggage.
The information was communicated to the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Narcotics), Vishesh Datherwal, through a secret note and was also entered in the Anti-Narcotics Police Station’s General Diary.
A raiding team was subsequently constituted and deployed to the airport. Police personnel, along with CID photographers, reached the arrival area, where two independent witnesses were also requested to participate in the search and seizure proceedings.
Police said the passenger was intercepted near the arrival gate at around 1.15 pm after an informer identified her. She was informed about her legal rights under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, including her right to have her personal search conducted before a Gazetted Officer or Executive Magistrate.
According to the FIR, Mistri declined to have her search conducted before an Executive Magistrate but agreed to be searched by the police team. A search of her person and a violet-coloured Adidas travel duffle bag allegedly led to the recovery of a packet wrapped in newspaper.
The packet contained dry leafy material with flowering shoots and a distinct odour. Police said a preliminary test using a drug detection kit indicated that the substance was ganja. The substance was subsequently weighed in the presence of independent witnesses and was found to be 655 grams.
The seized ganja was placed in a white carry bag and sealed with a brass seal. The travel duffle bag was also sealed. Police said labels were prepared at the spot and the seizure proceedings were completed at about 1.40 pm. The brass seal was handed over to one of the independent witnesses.
Mistri was arrested at around 1.55 pm on the same day after completion of the prescribed formalities. The entire search and seizure operation was videographed, according to the FIR. The seized articles and the arrested accused were later taken to the Anti-Narcotics Police Station, where the seized material was handed over to the Station House Officer as per procedure.
The investigation was subsequently conducted by ASI Sanjay Yadav of the Anti-Narcotics Police Station. After completing the investigation, police filed a charge sheet before the competent court.
Nearly two years after the seizure, the court convicted Mistri on August 12, 2026. The police said the conviction reflects the role of investigation and prosecution in taking narcotics cases to their legal conclusion.
The Andaman and Nicobar Police said possession, transportation, sale and trafficking of narcotic drugs are serious offences under the NDPS Act and urged residents to remain vigilant and share information concerning suspected drug-related activities.
Police said information can be provided through Dial 112, 234216, 9434280055 or 9531856080, while assuring that the identity of informers would be kept confidential.
The conviction comes amid the administration’s continuing efforts to strengthen enforcement against narcotics and prevent the movement of illicit drugs into the islands.
