Pune: Illegal Opium Cultivation Unearthed Near Khadakwasla: Two Arrested in Rural Police Raid
Khadakwasla, 13th March 2024: In the vicinity of Kirkatwadi near Khadakwasla on Sinhagad road, the crime branch of the rural police effectively revealed and addressed a case involving the illicit cultivation of opium. Tanaji Shantaram Hagavane (48) and Shivaji Baban Hagavane (55), residents of Kirkatwadi, were arrested as a result of a police raid on Hagwane’s farm near Indraprastha Society on Nandoshi Street. Acting on information received by the Crime Branch and Haveli police, a team conducted a raid, discovering that Hagavane had illicitly cultivated opium in his field. Subsequently, 14 kg of opium pods, valued at 28,700 rupees, were seized.
Both individuals are now facing charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, of 1985. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Superintendent of Pune Rural Police Pankaj Deshmukh, with the support of Additional Superintendent Ramesh Chopde, Sub Divisional Officer Bhausaheb Dhole, and the efforts of Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar, Police Inspector Sachin Wangde, Assistant Inspector Rahul Wangde, Vikas Adagale, Sachin Ghadge, Ajit Bhujbal, Dutta Tambe, Dagdu Veerkar, Dilip Ambekar, and Ashok Taru.
Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh initiated the action against illegal businesses and drug traffickers in response to information about opium cultivation in rural areas. This follows a recent case in Kodit village of Saswad, where the rural police exposed opium cultivation within onion fields, seizing ten kilos of opium weighing 500 grams.
