TWO ARRESTED, 440KG GANJA RECOVERED

LUCKNOW: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Lucknow unit on Saturday arrested two Odisha residents carrying 440 kilograms of ganja in a jeep, after intercepting them in Mohan Sarai, Varanasi.

A senior DRI official said those arrested were identified as Ajay Khilo and Surjit Dey, both residents of Rayagada (Odisha). They were sent to jail after registering an FIR against them.

He said the DRI was keeping vigil on the spurt of interstate transportation of narcotic substances and ganja’ from the bordering areas of Odisha, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Koraput , Malkangiri and Vizag.

He said acting on specific intelligence in one such development, the officers of DRI, Lucknow, intercepted a Toyota Pick-Up jeep (number OR18A1519) from Mohansarai , Varanasi on the night of FridaySaturday and apprehended two people. He said a huge quantity of ganja weighing 440 kilograms, valued at around Rs 44 lakh, was recovered from the jeep.

He said the two accused used to carry self adhesive number stickers of different states which they pasted on the original vehicle number and often also pasted fake registration numbers.

He said the consignment was concealed beneath a load of ginger and the ganja was to be delivered to someone in Mathura.

He said further investigation was on to nab other people involved in the racket.