Mangaluru: Two arrested with 21.45 kg of ganja smuggled from Odisha for New Year sale

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, January 3, 2026: Mangaluru city police arrested two men and seized 21.45 kg of ganja that was allegedly brought from Odisha to be sold in the city during the New Year celebrations. The arrests were made by Surathkal police on January 3, 2026, following specific intelligence inputs.

Based on information that ganja was being illegally stored in a car for distribution, police conducted a raid near a house named Benaka at 2nd Cross, Parameshwari Nagar, Chokkabettu village, under the Surathkal police station limits.

The accused have been identified as Pradeep Poojary (32), son of late Narayana Poojary, a native of Shalemajalu in Mangaluru taluk and currently residing in a rented house at Chokkabettu, and Vasantha (42), son of K. Venkappa Poojary, a resident of Chitrapura, Mangaluru.

During the raid, police seized 21.450 kg of ganja valued at ₹10,72,500, three mobile phones worth about ₹7,000, a Swift car (KA-04-MD-2532) used for transportation and valued at ₹3 lakh, three luggage bags, two ganja consumption strips, and ₹1,000 in cash. The total value of the seized items is estimated at ₹13,86,500.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed that they procured the ganja from Odisha on December 29, 2025, intending to sell it in Mangaluru during the New Year period. However, due to heightened police surveillance and deployment across the city, they were unable to sell the contraband and kept it stored in the car.

A case has been registered at Surathkal Police Station (Crime No. 01/2026) under Sections 8(c) and 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway.

Police said Pradeep Poojary is a habitual offender with multiple criminal cases registered against him, including theft, NDPS offences, attempt to murder, preparation for dacoity, criminal conspiracy, and Arms Act violations across various police stations.

The operation was conducted under the leadership of North Sub-Division ACP Srikanth K, with the assistance of Surathkal police officers and staff.

Police stated that the seizure has dealt a major blow to drug trafficking efforts aimed at exploiting festive crowds in Mangaluru.