A man was arrested and more than five kilograms of suspected ganja was seized at the Veer Savarkar International Airport (VSI Airport) in Sri Vijaya Puram on March 13 during an anti-narcotics operation carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Police Station along with the Dog Squad Team.
The operation, conducted at the airport located at Lamba Line, led to the recovery of 5.330 kilograms of the contraband substance concealed inside a passenger’s luggage. The accused had arrived in Sri Vijaya Puram from Kolkata on the same day on an Air India Express flight when he was intercepted by the police team acting on specific intelligence inputs.
According to information released by the Andaman and Nicobar Police, the suspect was identified as Jagadish Mondal, 53, a private worker residing at CARI Road in Bhathu Basti in Sri Vijaya Puram and originally from West Bengal. During the inspection of his luggage, police recovered the illegal substance hidden inside his bag.
Officials stated that the recovery was made after a detailed inspection carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Police Station team with assistance from the Dog Squad. The contraband was subsequently seized in accordance with procedures prescribed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Following the recovery, the accused was taken into custody at the airport. Police confirmed that all codal formalities required under the NDPS Act were observed during the seizure and arrest process.
The operation formed part of ongoing anti-narcotics enforcement measures being carried out in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to curb the movement and distribution of illegal drugs through transport routes, including air travel.
Drug trafficking has increasingly drawn attention across several parts of the country, with enforcement agencies focusing on interception points such as airports, ports and transport hubs. Security checks and intelligence-based operations are being used to detect attempts to move narcotics into island territories.
Officials said the latest seizure highlights the continued monitoring of passenger movements and baggage screening processes at entry points in the islands. Airports, in particular, remain under heightened surveillance as authorities attempt to prevent narcotic substances from being transported into the region.
Police have also urged residents to remain alert and assist law enforcement agencies by sharing information about suspected drug trafficking or substance abuse activities. Authorities said timely information from the public can help prevent the spread of narcotics and support ongoing enforcement efforts.
Members of the public can report suspicious activities or information related to narcotics through the emergency number 112 or by contacting 234216, 9476022992, and 9531856080.
Further investigation into the case is underway under provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.
