DRI Seizes 740 Kg Cannabis, Charas; 13 Arrested
Eight nationwide operations target illegal cannabis trafficking through road, rail and air routes
- DRI seizes 709.6 kg ganja, 24.5 kg hydroponic cannabis and 5 kg charas.
- Eight intelligence-led operations conducted across the country in the last fortnight.
- 13 persons arrested under the NDPS Act, 1985.
- Seizures made from trucks, vehicles, trains and airport passengers.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 9th Sept: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 740 kg of cannabis and charas and arrested 13 persons in eight intelligence-led operations conducted across the country over the last fortnight as part of its intensified crackdown on illicit narcotics trafficking.
The seizures include 709.6 kg cannabis (ganja), 24.5 kg high-grade hydroponic cannabis and 5 kg charas. The arrests were made under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
In the latest operation on September 8, DRI officers intercepted two trucks coming from Visakhapatnam at Old Dhamtari Road near Raipur. Examination of the vehicles led to the recovery of 61 packets suspected to contain ganja, concealed in 10 sacks in the loading areas. Field testing confirmed the presence of cannabis. A total of 375.95 kg ganja and the two trucks were seized, with four persons arrested.
Earlier, on August 26, DRI officers seized around 124 kg ganja concealed in a truck intercepted near Raipur. The vehicle was seized and one person was arrested.
During an operation on September 5–6 near Patna, DRI officers intercepted a truck on the Aurangabad–Patna Highway after a chase. One officer was injured after the team was attacked, while the truck driver escaped. A search revealed a secret cavity behind the driver’s cabin containing 90 packets of ganja. The operation resulted in the seizure of 140.5 kg ganja and the truck.
In Punjab, DRI officers intercepted a vehicle near Ludhiana on September 1–2 and recovered around 69 kg cannabis from 67 packets concealed in specially created cavities in the vehicle’s floor. Two persons were arrested.
At Gorakhpur Railway Station on September 3, DRI officers intercepted three passengers travelling in the general compartment of the Amarnath Express. A search led to the recovery of around 5 kg charas (hashish) concealed in knee-cap-like coverings around the thighs of two passengers. The investigation indicated that the charas had been smuggled from Nepal. All three persons were arrested.
In three separate operations over the last 15 days, DRI officers also intercepted three passengers arriving from Hanoi, Vietnam, and Bangkok, Thailand, at Hyderabad and Bengaluru airports. The operations resulted in the seizure of approximately 24.6 kg high-potency cannabis, with three persons arrested.
The DRI said the operations demonstrate its continued focus on disrupting narcotics trafficking through road, rail and air routes, including consignments concealed in specially created vehicle cavities, secret compartments and passenger baggage.
