4 held, drugs worth Rs5cr seized in joint op by NCB and SSB

Lucknow: Four drug smugglers were arrested and narcotics worth Rs 5 crore were seized in a joint operation conducted by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

According to a senior officer from NCB Lucknow, the joint team, in collaboration with the 22nd Battalion of the SSB, intercepted a Mahindra Scorpio vehicle with registration number BR 22 P 1255 at Sonauli in Maharajganj, based on intelligence gathered over the past two days.

Approximately 72 kg of charas was seized from the vehicle and four individuals involved in the smuggling operation were arrested, said senior NCB officers. The arrested individuals have been identified as Nabi Hasan, Guddu Yadav and Seema Devi, all residents of Bihar, along with Rani Devi from Kushinagar.

Sources within the NCB said that the smugglers were transporting the consignment to Delhi and planned to distribute it to various parts of India. It was further disclosed that the narcotics were obtained from Nepal at a significantly lower price.

“They initially intended to enter Bihar but due to poor road conditions there, they diverted their route through Uttar Pradesh, where they were intercepted,” added the NCB sources. They said that the consignment was picked up from Kathmandu.

NCB Lucknow zone director, Prashant Srivastava emphasised the agency’s determination to intensify efforts against drug trafficking, especially in light of the upcoming general elections, to maintain public safety and security.