Varanasi: The STF of UP on Thursday night arrested one active trafficker from a gang engaged in interstate narcotics smuggling and seized 439 kg of cannabis valued at approximately Rs 1.1 crore from his possession. The smuggler was arrested near the under-construction petrol pump at Pachokhara Kasopur tiraha, under Madihan police station area of Mirzapur district. The arrested person was identified as Amarjeet Yadav alias Pahalwan, resident of Gorakhpur district, presently residing in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh. According to reports, the STF had been receiving intelligence inputs about the active involvement of seasoned traffickers in the illegal trade of narcotic substances. In this regard, various STF units and teams were directed to gather intelligence and take appropriate action. On Thursday, an STF field unit team from Prayagraj was in Mirzapur district for criminal intelligence gathering. During this operation, information was received that members of a gang trafficking narcotics on a large scale were transporting illegal cannabis in a vehicle (UP 72 AT 5969) from Rayagada, Odisha, via Sonbhadra toward Mirzapur.Acting on this information, and after informing Madihan circle officer in Mirzapur district, Mohammad Faheem Qureshi, a team under sub-inspector Ranendra Kumar Singh reached the under-construction petrol pump at Pachokhara Kasopur tiraha.In the presence of the CO and accompanying personnel, the vehicle was stopped and searched. A large quantity of illegal cannabis was found concealed behind empty plastic crates. Amarjeet Yadav was arrested on the spot. During questioning, he revealed that he is an active member of an illegal narcotics trafficking network that brings cannabis from Rayagada, Odisha, and sells it at high prices in Prayagraj and nearby districts. The owner of the vehicle is Abhishek Shukla alias Guruji, a resident of Hansrajpur village in Holagarh police station area of Prayagraj. On his instructions, the accused had taken the vehicle to Rayagada, Odisha, where he met Rajat Singh, resident of Ghazipur district, and Shubham Singh, resident of Rayagada district of Odisha. Rajat Singh runs a roadside eatery in Rayagada. Rajat Singh and his associate Shubham Singh loaded the cannabis into sacks and concealed them behind plastic crates in the vehicle. The consignment was being brought to Abhishek Shukla near Holagarh, Prayagraj, for sale. These individuals have reportedly been involved in cannabis trafficking for several years. Earlier too, they had supplied illegal cannabis multiple times. Whatever profits are made from this trade are divided among themselves. For delivering the consignment on time, the accused would have received Rs 1 lakh each. A case has been registered against the arrested accused at Madihan police station under Sections 8/20/29 of the NDPS Act. Further legal proceedings will be carried out by the local police.
