Police have arrested a 24-year-old auto-rickshaw driver after seizing brown sugar valued at Rs 17.4 lakh from his possession in Maharashtra`s Palghar district, officials said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.

The man was found loitering on Tuesday near Capital Mall, on the east side of Nalasopara Railway Station.

During the search, 56.04 gm of brown sugar was recovered from the accused, identified as Samsad Jamshed Ali, hailing from Uttarakhand and residing in Nalasopara area, the Achole police said, reported PTI.

The police later carried out a search of his residence, which resulted in the recovery of an additional 28 gm of the contraband, they said.

A case has been registered against the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the police added.

Two held for possessing 5 kg ganja

In another incident, the police have arrested two persons for allegedly possessing nearly five kilograms of ganja in Bhiwandi taluka of Maharashtra`s Thane district, and seized the contraband and other items worth more than Rs 7 lakh, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The action was taken on Monday, senior inspector Janardhan Sonawane of the Crime Unit 2 in Bhiwandi said.

Acting on a tip-off, a crime branch team laid a trap in Bhiwandi. After the two suspects came to the spot to sell ganja, the police apprehended them. The duo was identified as Prashant alias Salad Suresh Tayde (27) and Sohail alias Pittal Irfan Ali Ansari (20), he said, reported PTI.

The police seized 4.827 kilograms of ganja, a two-wheeler and other valuables, collectively valued at Rs 3.54 lakh.

A case was filed against them under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Bhiwandi City police station, he added.

Further investigation led the police to the residence of accused Tayde, where they recovered an illegal country-made pistol and a live cartridge, raising the total value of the seizure to Rs 7.39 lakh, according to him, reported PTI.

A local court then remanded them to police custody till September 24, he said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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