The Anti-Narcotics Police Station (ANPS) of the Andaman and Nicobar Police intercepted a major drug consignment and apprehended a suspect following an intelligence-led operation. The seizure, totaling 7.365 kilograms of ganja, was concealed inside household items sent via a courier from Kolkata to Sri Vijaya Puram, North and Middle Andaman.
The operation was initiated after credible intelligence indicated that a suspicious parcel, arriving anonymously from Kolkata, might contain contraband. On 29 January 2026, ANPS officials, accompanied by independent witnesses, inspected three parcels, a refrigerator, a mixer grinder, and a sound bar at the courier godown. Seven brown-taped packets were discovered inside the refrigerator, later confirmed as ganja through field testing. The total contraband weighed 7.365 kg and was seized on-site along with the concealment items. An FIR was registered under Section 20(b)(ii)(B) of the NDPS Act, 1985, and investigations began immediately.
Following a technical investigation, officials traced the primary accused, 34-year-old Haripada Mondal of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, to Kolkata. A team of ANPS personnel led by Sub-Inspector A. Santhosh, assisted by PCs Raja Rao and Anup Das, proceeded to Kolkata on 10 March 2026 under the supervision of Inspector K. Binoj. The accused was successfully apprehended and transported to Sri Vijaya Puram on 16 March 2026.
The accused is scheduled to be presented before the court for police custody remand, enabling further interrogation to identify accomplices and trace financial links related to the trafficking network.
The operation involved coordinated planning, field surveillance, and verification of courier documentation, demonstrating the procedural approach of the Anti-Narcotics Police Station. The total operation was overseen by Deputy Superintendent of Police (Narcotics) Yogita Sharma and Deputy Inspector General of Police (CID), Jitendra Kumar Meena.
Officials emphasized that the seizure forms part of broader efforts to monitor and control narcotics trafficking in the islands, particularly through courier networks connecting the mainland to North and Middle Andaman. Authorities continue to investigate potential connections of the accused with wider drug distribution networks.
The investigation highlights the systematic approach employed in intelligence verification, consignment inspection, and inter-state coordination. Further legal procedures, including remand and evidence collection, are underway to ensure accountability of those involved in the contraband operation.
The case underscores ongoing challenges related to narcotics trafficking in remote island territories and reflects the operational focus on monitoring shipments entering through mainland connections. Officials confirmed that the investigation remains active, with priority given to identifying the full network responsible for transporting and distributing illicit substances.
