In Ranchi, law enforcement officials arrested three individuals after seizing 97 kg of ganja during a coordinated effort by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Nagri police on Friday, according to an officer.

The Jharkhand Police reported that they confiscated ganja and brown sugar worth more than Rs 52 lakh across separate operations in the districts of Ranchi and Deoghar on Friday. Specifically, the three arrests in Ranchi occurred when NCB agents, acting on a tip-off, collaborated with Nagri police to stop two vehicles, leading to the recovery of 97 kg of ganja from one of the cars.

According to Ranchi Rural SP Gaurav Goswami, both vehicles were seized alongside the narcotics. Preliminary investigations revealed that the drugs were being transported from Odisha to Barhi. The NCB has since taken custody of the contraband and the suspects.

The estimated market value of the ganja has been assessed at over Rs 48 lakh, as reported by another official. Meanwhile, in Deoghar, authorities arrested five individuals who were found in possession of 21 grams of brown sugar valued at approximately Rs 420,000, along with Rs 5,400 in cash during a raid in Hindolavaran under the jurisdiction of Mohanpur police station on Thursday.

Deoghar SP Praveen Pushkar confirmed the arrests, stating that the accused, aged between 20 and 36, all have criminal backgrounds, with two of them previously charged with similar offenses. Investigations are ongoing.