Pune: Drug peddlers rope in minors to sell narcotics; substance worth Rs 1.50 lakh seized

Pune: Pune police have detained two juveniles who have recently cleared tenth board examination, and has also arrested a 21-year-old youth, who was allegedly selling marijuana in Pune. The Pune police's Anti Narcotic Cell has taken action and has seized huge quantities of illegal substances from the juvenile worth of more than Rs 1.50 lakh.

In this regard, the police have arrested Rohit Nanabhau Lanke (21), a resident of Kasturba Housing Society in Vishrantwadi. Police have detained two minor accomplices who were used for peddling.

The Pune city police's Anti-Narcotic Cell (East) had received a piece of information on Friday stating that two children between the age group of 16 to 17 are selling illegal substances on Vishrantwadi road, based on which they laid the trapped and zeroed down the gang.

Senior Inspector Anti-Narcotics Cell (East) Vijay Tikole, who led the sleuth, said, "Our constable Sachin Chandan received a tip-off about a gang operating near Kasturba society near Anniruddha Apartment. Acting on this tip-off, our team laid a trap in which our team members Arjun Divekar, Shivaji Rahigude, Prashant Bomadandi, Meena Pinjan, Amit Chhadidar, Sachin Chandan, Manoj Salunkhe and Yogesh Mohite went to the spot. And on Friday late evening, the gang arrested the suspect and two others, who were minors."

He added, "The police seized 7.360 kilograms of ganja worth Rs 1.50 lakh from them. The two juveniles had had recently appeared for and cleared their tenth board examinations. With such detail, the arrested suspect had a plan to give Rs 1,000 per day. Lanke, who was arrested, also had a criminal record with the police and has been involved in similar kinds of illegal drug peddling and smuggling business. But this time, Lanke was already operating from behind, and was using children for his business, so that no one suspects them."