• UP STF seizes 433.930 kg of cannabis in Ayodhya.
• Consignment estimated to be worth ₹1.25 crore.
• Haryana resident Mohammad Irshad arrested near Bharatkund toll plaza.
• Police teams searching for alleged mastermind and truck owner Ikramuddin.

GG News Bureau
Ayodhya, 11th Nov: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF) has seized approximately 433.930 kg of illegal cannabis, estimated to be worth ₹1.25 crore in the international market, from a truck intercepted near the Bharatkund toll plaza on the Sultanpur-Ayodhya highway.

A Lucknow-based UP STF team laid a trap near the toll plaza and arrested the truck driver, identified as Mohammad Irshad, a resident of Haryana. Officers also recovered a mobile phone, driving licence, PAN card and other identity documents from the vehicle.

The operation followed intelligence inputs that large consignments of narcotics were being transported from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to different districts of Uttar Pradesh through trucks. Acting on specific information about a 14-wheel truck carrying cannabis from Odisha, the STF team set up a checkpoint near Bharatkund.

Peach Consignment Used as Cover
During questioning, Irshad allegedly told investigators that he had taken a truck loaded with peaches from Jalandhar in Punjab to Angul in Odisha. After unloading the fruit, truck owner Ikramuddin allegedly instructed him over the phone to park the vehicle near a petrol pump on the Sonpur route, after crossing the Angul toll plaza.

According to the accused’s account, a man arrived at the location around 1 am and spoke to the truck owner over the phone. Around three hours later, the same person allegedly returned after loading more than 433 kg of cannabis into the truck.

The man reportedly handed Irshad the vehicle keys, a Lava keypad mobile phone and a SIM card. The consignment was allegedly meant to be delivered in Bahraich.

Truck Owner Remains Absconding
The alleged delivery plan involved the buyer contacting a designated mobile number after the truck reached Bahraich. The delivery would then take place after confirmation from the truck owner, according to the police account.

However, the STF intercepted the vehicle before it could reach its destination. The alleged main conspirator and truck owner, Ikramuddin, remains absconding. UP STF and local police teams are conducting raids to trace and arrest him.