Inter-state narco cartel busted, over 300 kg cannabis worth Rs 1 cr seized
Darpan News Desk IANS, 27 Apr, 2023 12:36 PM
New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) With the arrest of three men, the Delhi Police have busted an inter-state nacro traffickers' cartel with possible links with Naxals, an official said on Thursday.
The police have also recovered over 300 kilograms of cannabis worth more than Rs 1 crore from them.
The accused were identified as Pratap (45), a resident of Rampura in Delhi; Lakhan (23) and Pooran (22) - both residents of Okhla Mod.
According to police, specific inputs were received on Wednesday that three persons, who are involved in the drug peddling, will assemble near Naraina Flyover to supply drugs.
"Acting on the inputs, a police team immediately laid a trap near Naraina Flyover, Ring Road and all three were apprehended," said Akshat Kaushal, additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West).
A total of 20 bundles were recovered from them. "On checking the bundles, the packets of cannabis were found concealed in it. A total of 301.15 kg of cannabis was recovered," said Kaushal.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the contraband substance was sourced from Muniguda in Odisha.
"Initial interrogation has revealed that the contraband substance was to be sold in Delhi and adjoining areas. The arrested individuals have revealed the names of their handlers, names of whom are being withheld at this stage," said the official.
"So far, we have not found any direct Naxal link. The material is sourced from Muniguda, the place which has traditionally been part of the red-corridor but we are probing the case with all angles," said the official.
"Further investigation is in progress and efforts are being made to nab the complete chain of suppliers," the official added.
As per the latest data, nearly 1.25 crore passengers were carried by the domestic airlines during January, 2023 in the country as against 64 lakh during the same period last year. The passenger load factor or occupancy of the airlines remained on the higher side in the range of 80 to 90 per cent.
The accused were identified as Hardeep Harnal (35), a resident of Mohali, Punjab; Himanshu Verma (27), a resident of Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh; Sharafat Ali (29), a resident of Ambala, Haryana; and Sagar Bagga (30), a resident of Rohini in Delhi.
Mishra, who was arrested by the Delhi Police from Bengaluru on January 7 for allegedly urinating on a 70-year-old woman while in a drunken state on a flight last November, was granted bail on January 31 by national capital's Patiala House Court.
NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh said the woman was identified as Syeeda Abida. She had plans to travel from Delhi to Doha by a Qatar Airline flight but was apprehended at IGI Airport on March 10.
The two sessions of G20 are slated to be held in the state on March 15-17 and March 19-20. The first one is the second G20 Education Working Group Meeting, while the second is a two-day Labour 20 (L20) meeting.
On January 25, the Supreme Court granted interim bail for eight weeks to Ashish Mishra and directed him to leave Uttar Pradesh within one week of his release from jail. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.K. Maheshwari directed the sessions judge dealing with the trial of the case to keep apprising it about the future developments of the trial.
