Lucknow emerging as key transit hub for drugs peddled in western UP

their contact in Barabanki. The supply originated from some place in West Bengal,” he said.

Another major seizure was carried out on March 11 -- this time by the STF. Sleuths seized over 12 quintal of ‘doda posta’ (poppy husk) in Badaun, which was hidden under vegetables in a canter vehicle. Haryana resident Gurmeet Singh was arrested in the incident. The sleuths claimed it was one of the biggest seizures.

Inspector general (IG) of police, STF, Amitabh Yash said the arrested person revealed that the consignment originated in Ranchi, Jharkhand and was meant to be delivered to contacts in Bareilly. “From there it was to be supplied to places in western UP and Delhi. The arrested carrier also revealed that the drug peddlers used Lucknow as the transit point,” said Yash.

He said the investigation showed that the drug peddlers supplied poppy husk to addicts in nine districts of western Uttar Pradesh through roadside eateries (dhabas).

“These districts are Bareilly, Badaun, Rampur, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Saharanpur, Meerut and Baghpat,” he said.

Another consignment was intercepted in Lucknow’s Chinhat area on February 8. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Lucknow zone unit, seized 180 kg of high quality Nepalese Charas.

The consignment was meant to be delivered to Meerut and was passing through the state capital via the Faizabad road, when it was seized. Two persons, truck driver Babban and his associate Waseem, were arrested in the incident.