Corporate-style cannabis smuggling runs in Bhind office:Manager to storekeeper have fixed duties, financer earns ₹5 lakh along with separate security budget

A well-organised “company model” of cannabis smuggling has been exposed in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh. In this system, every role was fixed, from the financier and manager to the storekeeper and supply handlers, and everyone had a fixed share of the profit. Police said the financier earned double the amount invested. A separate security budget was kept in advance to deal with emergencies, such as if someone was caught. Gang members also used code words to talk to each other. The model came to light after Barohi police arrested three members of an organised cannabis smuggling gang. All three accused have been sent to jail under the NDPS Act. Two more accused linked to the network are still on the run. Dainik Bhaskar investigated the full story of the smuggling by talking to the police and sources. Read this report… Reportedly, a few nights ago, police spotted a suspicious Hyundai car moving around near Madanpura Dam. When the police tried to stop the car, the driver started fleeing through a dirt road. The car was stopped after a chase, and during the search, 22 kg 200 grams of ganja was recovered. The car was being driven by Rajendra Baghel, a resident of BTI Road, Bhind. Along with him, Pankaj Shukla, a resident of Barohi, and Rajkumar Sharma, a resident of Soi Police Station Surpura, were also present. During police interrogation, the links of the entire network came to light, making it clear that this ganja smuggling had taken the form of a well-planned and organized business. The network operated like a company, this is how profits were distributed.
This entire network of cannabis smuggling was being operated like a company. The division of work and profit was predetermined. The entire system was divided into four main parts, in which each person’s role and share were fixed. The most important role was that of the financier, who invested capital in the entire business. For example, cannabis worth about ?2 lakh was purchased from Odisha, which was then sold in Bhind, bringing the total business to ?10 lakh. Out of this total amount, a direct 50 percent share went to the financier, i.e., about ?5 lakh. The remaining ?5 lakh was distributed among other people connected to the network. In this, the manager was given ?1.50 lakh, the storekeeper ?1.50 lakh, and the seller ?1.50 lakh. The remaining ?50 thousand was kept for network operations, security, and other resource expenses. Network Linked to Odisha Smugglers in Central Jail
About four years ago, Pankaj Shukla, a resident of Barohi, went to jail in 2022 in a ganja smuggling case. After reaching jail, he strengthened his connections with this drug trade. Initially, he himself consumed ganja and started selling it by making small packets. While imprisoned in Sub-Jail Mehgaon, he established a ganja supply network within the jail itself. He would procure packets from outside, consume them himself, and sell them to other inmates. When his activities came to light, the jail administration took action and sent him to Central Jail Gwalior. It was here that he met big ganja smugglers from Odisha. After their contact grew, a deal was struck to buy ganja at cheap prices. Later, after being released on bail, Pankaj used the network formed in this very jail as a base and established a complete system of ganja smuggling in Bhind. Financier sought, deal on WhatsApp, payment via PhonePe
After coming out of jail on bail, Pankaj Shukla first planned to re-establish his illegal business. For this, he started searching for a financier and by luring with double profit, convinced Bholu Dandotiya from the village. After finding a financier, the network was expanded. Pankaj added his trusted acquaintances Rajendra Baghel and Majnu alias Shivam Sharma, a resident of Aryanager, as suppliers. To avoid police strictness, cannabis was not kept directly, but it was safely stored at Rajkumar Sharma’s house in Soi village. Members of the gang used corporate-like terminology during their conversations. Instead of real names, code words like ‘financier’, ‘dealer’, ‘store keeper’, and ‘salesman’ were used in conversations. All communication took place via WhatsApp. After the delivery of goods was complete, payment was taken through digital platforms like PhonePe instead of cash, so that a record of the transaction could be maintained and suspicion could be avoided. Bought from Odisha at Rs 5,000 per kg, sold at Rs 25,000
According to the police, the investigation revealed that this ganja smuggling gang used to bring 50 kg to one quintal of ganja at a time from Odisha. The ganja was filled in cloth bags, with ganja at the bottom and clothes on top, so as not to arouse suspicion during checking. The entire purchase amount was financed by Bholu Dandotiya. After the goods were sold, he was returned double the amount he invested. Police said that ganja was purchased from Odisha at a rate of approximately 5 thousand rupees per kilogram, which was then sold in Bhind and surrounding areas for 20 to 25 thousand rupees per kilogram. The responsibility for supply was also fixed area-wise. Majnu alias Shivam Sharma supplied ganja in Bhind city, while the supply for rural areas was the responsibility of Rajendra Baghel. Additionally, the gang’s activities were spread to Etawah and the Porsa region of Morena district, where their henchmen are reported to be active. 12 Lakh Car Bought from Ganja Business
It has come to light in the police investigation that Rajendra Baghel had bought a Hyundai Exter car worth approximately 12 lakh rupees with money earned from ganja smuggling. The accused repeatedly used this car to go to Odisha and bring ganja. According to the police, this vehicle was playing a crucial role in the smuggling network. A few months ago, the police had also made Rajendra Baghel’s wife an accused in this case. Investigating agencies are also gathering information about other movable and immovable properties related to the ganja business. Three accused arrested, sent to jail
Barohi police station in-charge Atul Bhadauria said that three accused have been arrested in a cannabis smuggling case and sent to jail under the NDPS Act. Two accused associated with the gang, Bholu Dandotiya and Majnu alias Shivam Sharma, are currently absconding and are being searched for.