Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), Neemuch, has busted inter-state drug cartels involved in trafficking of illicit Opium from North East India to Rajasthan and seized 272 kg illicit opium, a statement from the Ministry of Finance said.
The seized opium is worth around Rs 14 crore in the international market.
The statement said that officers of CBN, Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, initiated “OPERATION TULIP” to bust these inter-state cartels after receiving specific intelligence that drug traffickers of Rajasthan were using Trawler trucks having specially built cavities for smuggling huge quantities of illicit opium from NE States to Rajasthan.
In its operation, CBN intercepted an Ashok Leyland Trawler (22-Wheeler) at Rajadhok Toll Plaza, Jaipur-Agra Highway, Jaipur (Raj.) and seized 95 packets of Opium weighing 102.910 kg from specially built cavities inside the trawler on 15 November 2022.
Credit: PIB New Delhi
In follow-up operation, officers of CBN intercepted a Tata Trawler at a toll tax near Barabanki (U.P.) and recovered 133 packets of Opium weighing 135.709kg on 20 November. These packets were concealed in a special cavity made underneath the trawler between the rear tyres, the Ministry stated.
In continuance of Anti-Drug operations, officers of CBN, based on specific intelligence, intercepted a Tata Trawler in Hisar district (Haryana) and recovered 33 packets of Opium weighing 33.870kg.
The three vehicles along with recovered illicit Opium have been seized under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985 and six persons have also been arrested in this operation so far, the statement said.
The Ministry has said that these seizures have highlighted an important fact that huge quantities of illicit opium are being trafficked from North East India.
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