Hotel manager accused of selling drug arrested

JAIPUR: The Jaipur rural police on Monday arrested a hotel manager from Dudu area and recovered illegal opium and cash from his possession.

Jaipur rural superintendent of police (SP) Shankar Dutt Sharma said the district rural police is running a special drive against supply of narcotic substances. A team of crime branch was receiving information from sources that a few hotels in Dudu were allegedly selling opium and other restricted psychotropic substances. “Acting on the tipoff, the members of crime branch surveyed multiple hotels on Dudu road and verified the information. On Sunday, the team raided New Choudhary hotel and c aught Tej a Ram r e dhanded, From possession of Ram, 1.10 kg opium and Rs 2.15 lakh cash,” said Sharma.

The recovered opium is worth around Rs 3.15 lakh in grey market. The accused manager used to sell this opium to truck drivers. “Ram told us that the owner of the hotel is already in judicial custody in an NDPS case. He used to buy this opium from Chittorgarh district and sell it to trusted customers. Further investigation is on,” added the Jaipur rural SP.

Meanwhile, in order to curb smuggling of opium and its by-products, the crime branch of state police is keeping a special watch on peddlers and smugglers across Pratapgarh, Chittorgah and border districts.

In last one week, the special team of state crime branch along with local police arrested four persons and have seize more than 750 kg opium and poppy husk from Udaipur and Chittorgarh district.

Opium poppy cultivation is restricted under section 8 of the NDPS Act, 1985.