Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 21: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized around 845 kg of contraband, including ganja, charas, cannabis and amphetamine, and arrested 15 people in multiple operations across the country over the past fortnight, an official said on Monday.
According to an official statement, DRI officers on September 20 intercepted two women travelling on the Jan Nayak Express at Gorakhpur Railway Station based on specific intelligence about the smuggling of charas or hashish from Nepal.
A personal search of the two passengers led to the recovery of around 6 kg of charas/hashish. The contraband had allegedly been concealed in knee caps wrapped around their thighs and hidden under their sarees. Both women were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
On September 17, DRI officers intercepted a container truck near Jindapur Toll Plaza in Bodh Gaya in an intelligence-led operation.
A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of around 752.3 kg of ganja/cannabis packed in 737 packets and concealed in rice husk. The contraband, vehicle and rice husk were seized and the driver was arrested.
In another operation on September 11, the DRI, in coordination with the Ghariyaband Forest Department, intercepted two persons at Mentri village in Odisha who were allegedly on their way to deliver narcotic drugs.
The search led to the recovery of around 48.5 kg of ganja packed in 25 packets and stored in three sacks. The scooter allegedly used to transport the contraband was also seized and both persons were arrested.
Customs authorities at the international airports in Mumbai and Bengaluru separately seized around 28 kg of high-grade cannabis or hydroponic weed from four passengers arriving from Thailand and Vietnam.
The contraband was seized under the NDPS Act and all four passengers were arrested, according to the statement.
At Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on September 15, DRI officers intercepted an Indian passenger arriving from Dubai via Doha.
A detailed examination of his checked-in baggage resulted in the recovery of around 5.8 kg of white powder packed in nine packets. Field testing indicated that the substance was cocaine. The contraband was seized and the passenger was arrested under the NDPS Act.
In Mumbai on September 16, an Indian woman passenger travelling from Delhi was intercepted and around 493 grams of pills were recovered from bottles labelled as Baby Powder.
The pills tested positive for amphetamine/ecstasy. The suspected contraband was seized and the passenger was arrested.
At Calicut Airport on September 9, DRI officials recovered around 1.9 kg of amphetamine from a passenger's baggage.
A subsequent operation led to the arrest of the alleged receiver and organiser. Another 17 grams of amphetamine and Rs 3.45 lakh in cash were recovered from their possession and vehicle.
In Indore, also on September 9, DRI officers intercepted a passenger travelling by bus from Delhi and recovered around 2 kg of amphetamine concealed inside salwar suit sets.
The contraband was seized and the passenger was arrested, the statement said.