Interstate cannabis smuggling gang busted in UP; four held with contraband worth Rs 3 crore

Four interstate smugglers were arrested on Wednesday here with 604 kg of illegal cannabis (Ganja) valued at over Rs 3 crore, officials said.

Superintendent of Police Abhinav Tyagi said the smugglers procured cannabis at cheaper rates from Odisha, supplying it to different districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The arrested accused Trishul Jaiswal (60) and Babu Ram Maurya (60), both residents of Prayagraj, Suren Gharai (24) from Azamgarh, and Montu Sahu (18), a resident of Deogarh district in Odisha.

Police also recovered a SUV and a closed truck container from their possession.

Tyagi said a police team intercepted an SUV ahead of a truck container on National Highway-19 while it was travelling from Prayagraj towards Varanasi via Bhadohi.

''When the police stopped the SUV for checking, the container truck attempted to turn back and flee. Both vehicles were intercepted and searched,'' the SP said.

Police recovered 604 kg of illegal cannabis packed in several sacks inside the container truck, following which all four accused were arrested, he said.

Tyagi said multiple criminal cases are already registered against the accused in different districts across several states.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)