₹1 Crore Ganja Seized Near Jhansi

A truck carrying 214 kg of illegal cannabis, estimated to be worth around ₹1 crore, was intercepted near Babina in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The truck was travelling from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, when it was stopped by a joint team of Jhansi Police and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF).

The truck was barely 100 km from its destination when it was intercepted. Two persons, including the driver, were arrested. The driver, Satpal, 46, is a resident of Haryana's Panipat district, and the other accused, Mohan Kushwaha, 27, is a resident of Gwalior.

During a search, police recovered 214 kg of cannabis concealed inside the vehicle. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth approximately ₹1 crore in the international market. The accused were allegedly instructed to switch off their mobile phones after loading the consignment and turn them on only after reaching Gwalior.

Mohan allegedly told police that his neighbour Akash Kushwaha was the kingpin of the operation. He claimed he travelled with Akash to Bhubaneswar, where associates arranged for the cannabis to be loaded. Mohan was allegedly promised ₹30,000, while Satpal was offered ₹1 lakh for transporting the consignment.

Satpal allegedly told investigators that he transported the cannabis at the behest of Gwalior resident Umrao Singh Rawat alias Kallu. To avoid being tracked, the smugglers allegedly communicated using phones available at hotels and roadside eateries along the route.

The police are now probing the wider Gwalior-based network and searching for others allegedly involved in the operation. Jhansi SSP Vikas Kumar said a joint team of Babina Police and ANTF was conducting intensive checking on the highway when officers stopped the suspicious truck.

The seizure of such a large quantity of ganja highlights the ongoing issue of drug smuggling in the region. The police have been cracking down on such operations, and this arrest is a significant step in disrupting the supply chain.

The incident also raises concerns about the ease with which smugglers are able to evade checkpoints and toll plazas across multiple states. The truck had allegedly travelled nearly 1,227 kilometres from Bhubaneswar to Jhansi without being detected.

The police are investigating the matter further and are working to identify and apprehend others involved in the operation. The seizure of ₹1 crore worth of ganja is a significant blow to the drug smuggling network in the region.

In conclusion, the seizure of ₹1 crore worth of ganja near Jhansi is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling in the region. The police have shown their commitment to disrupting the supply chain and bringing those involved to justice.