Surat Police Busts Multi-Crore Chemical Theft Racket; Two Arrested

Surat : The Surat police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated chemical theft racket, apprehending two individuals involved in a well-coordinated operation to steal agro chemicals worth a staggering Rs 79 crore from two companies in Bharuch. The clandestine scheme involved conspiring with trailer drivers to pilfer the chemicals meant for export and replacing them with bags of sand.

The modus operandi of the alleged racket involved siphoning agro chemicals dispatched by prominent companies, PI Industries Limited and Hemani Crop Private Limited, to the Hazira port for international export. Specifically, around 115 tons of ETHER and pyroxasulfone technical (octopussy) valued at Rs 76.73 crore from PI Industries Limited, and approximately 18 tons of metribuzin technical chemical from Hemani Crop Private Limited worth Rs 2 crore, were targeted.

According to police reports, the theft occurred during transportation when the chemical consignments were en route to the port. The accused, in collusion with trailer drivers, orchestrated the switch, surreptitiously exchanging the chemical stock within the trailers with sand-filled bags near Kosamba in Surat. This deceptive ploy came to light following a complaint filed at the Kosamba Police Station two months ago.

Responding to the complaint, the Surat rural police launched a comprehensive investigation to apprehend the chemical mafias operating in the district. As a result of their efforts, law enforcement officers managed to apprehend two prime suspects, identified as Manish Sharma, 32, a resident of Udhana, and Chiraj Bagadia, 35, hailing from Sarthana Jakatnaka in Surat. Upon their arrest, authorities seized goods estimated at a value of Rs. 79.66 crore from their possession.

The accused individuals had reportedly leased various godowns and shops across different locations in the Surat district to stash the stolen chemicals. However, through meticulous raids in villages such as Shekhpur and Velanja of Kamrej taluka, and Sayan and Kanyasi of Olpad taluka in the Surat rural district, law enforcement agencies successfully located and confiscated the pilfered chemical stock hidden in these locations.

“This is a significant breakthrough in dismantling an organized crime network involved in large-scale theft of chemical consignments meant for export. The collaboration between the companies, the police, and our investigative efforts led to the swift apprehension of the accused individuals and the recovery of the stolen goods,” stated an official from the Surat rural police.