Ahmedabad, July 8 (IANS) The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has arrested a man wanted in an earlier narcotics case along with his associate after seizing 9.8 kg of suspected ganja valued at Rs 4.9 lakh from an auto-rickshaw in the city, police said on Wednesday.

According to the Crime Branch, officers were on patrol as part of an operation to identify and take action against people involved in the illegal sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances when they received specific information about the movement of contraband.

Acting on the tip-off, the team intercepted an auto-rickshaw on the service road near the Adinath Stone warehouse, close to Chunilal Park Society on the CTM Narol-Naroda Road.

During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered 9.8 kg of alleged ganja valued at Rs 4.9 lakh. Police also seized other items, taking the total value of the property recovered to Rs 5,60,290.

The arrested men have been identified as Israyalkhan Khan, 33, a resident of Akola city in Maharashtra, and Mohammed Sajid Kamruddin Pathan, 42, a resident of Ramol area in Ahmedabad.

Police said Israyalkhan was already wanted in a case registered at Danilimda Police Station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

He is wanted in Danilimda Police Station case under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(2)(B) and 29 of the Act.

The Crime Branch has also named another suspect, identified as Mohsin Baba of Akola city, as a wanted accused in connection with the investigation.

Following the seizure, the Crime Branch registered a fresh case at the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) Police Station. The case has been filed under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(2)(B) and 29 of the NDPS Act.

Police said legal proceedings have been initiated against the two arrested accused in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act.

The investigation is continuing to establish the source of the seized contraband, its intended destination and the involvement of any other persons connected to the alleged narcotics network.

–IANS

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