250 kg of marijuana recovered from well

A large quantity of marijuana that was packed in 26 gunny bags was fished out from a public well in Nigadi Ota scheme last morning.u00a0After the recovery of almost a half-truck of marijuana, commonly known as weed, the police said they suspected whoever threw the stuff in the well must have done so to cover their tracks.u00a0

Heave ho: The marijuana is loaded on to a truck. Pic/Navnath Kaple

Officials of the Nigadi police station are now interrogating the residents of the area, which is mostly covered by slums.u00a0The recovery was made after the police received an anonymous call informing them about suspicious material being thrown in the well in the Nigadi slums.

"We have recovered almost 600 kg of soaked marijuana, but the real weight of the contraband could be around 250 kg. We suspect that people involved in its illegal trade may have thrown it in the well to avoid being caught. However, we are hopeful of a breakthrough in this case," Police Inspector Nandkishor Bhosale-Patil said.

A resident of the Ota scheme said the police team searched the entire area around Nigadi Ota Scheme slums. He said the well from where the marijuana was fished out was located exactly opposite two tin sheds that locals had often suspected of being used to sell drugs.

The police said the there was an iron grill on the well that had to be removed with the help of a JCB to fish out the sacks from the well.
The per-kg price of marijuana in the international market is Rs 3,000.u00a0