A major illegal cannabis cultivation operation has been uncovered in Surendranagar district, where cannabis plants worth nearly ₹2.79 crore were being grown secretly behind a cotton plantation. The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Surendranagar raided the farmland in Sayla taluka and seized 180 fresh cannabis plants weighing a total of 559 kilos. The raid lasted for nearly 19 continuous hours, and one accused has been arrested in connection with the case. Due to the massive volume of seized plants, the police even ran short of sacks needed to pack the seized contraband.
According to officials, the SOG team carried out the operation at Khitla village, where accused Raju Khavad had allegedly planted cannabis under the cover of a cotton field. Acting on a specific input received by PSI R.J. Gohil, the SOG launched a coordinated raid involving local GRD jawans. Because the cannabis plants were deeply rooted and heavily grown, the team required assistance from 12 GRD personnel, who were familiar with agricultural tasks and helped uproot the plants efficiently. Each plant was enormous, with some measuring close to 12 feet in height.
An unusual challenge arose when the officers found that several cannabis plants had beehives attached to them. Thick clusters of bees had settled on the plants, forcing the team to first use smoke to disperse the bees safely before uprooting the crops. Once the honeybees were cleared, the plants were cut, uprooted, and packed. Due to the shortage of regular sacks, the team switched to larger 15×20 plastic bags to seal and transport the seized material. Eventually, the entire consignment filled a complete tractor trolley.
Investigating officers reported that a total of 180 fresh cannabis plants were seized from the farm. The plants weighed 559.7 kilograms collectively and were valued at ₹2,79,85,000 on the illicit market. The accused, Raju Khavad, has been arrested and booked under the NDPS Act at Dhajala Police Station. Further legal action has been initiated, and police are examining whether anyone else was involved in the cultivation or potential distribution network.
Surendranagar DYSP Parth Parmar confirmed the details, stating that the SOG had accurate intelligence indicating that the accused was cultivating cannabis in his cotton farm to avoid detection. The officers conducted a swift and well-coordinated operation, resulting in one of the largest cannabis seizures in the district in recent months. He added that strict action would continue against individuals misusing agricultural land for illegal activities.
This is not the first time the SOG has busted such cultivation operations. Around ten months ago, the SOG used drone surveillance to detect illegal cannabis cultivation in Dahod district. The accused in that case had planted cannabis behind tall sweet potato creepers to conceal the crop from plain sight. The farmer, Prem Patel, had grown the plants, while his grandson, Shailesh, was responsible for packing and selling the dried cannabis. Both were arrested under the NDPS Act as well. The police continue to intensify surveillance in rural areas to curb such activities.
The recent seizure highlights the growing trend of farmers misusing crop covers such as cotton, sweet potato vines, and other tall vegetation to hide illegal cultivation. Authorities have increased monitoring in remote agricultural zones and advised villagers to report suspicious land activities promptly. With this significant breakthrough, the SOG has once again sent a strong message against narcotics production in the region.
