Inter-state drug smuggler held with poppy husk in Hisar

In a significant breakthrough in fight against drug trafficking, the Hisar unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Haryana, arrested an inter-state drug smuggler at Surewala Chowk on National Highway No. 52 near Uklana town in Hisar district. The smuggler was caught with a Punjab-registered truck carrying a large quantity of narcotics.

Acting on secret information, the NCB team seized 189.930 kilograms of poppy husk (chura post) from the vehicle. The arrested accused has been identified as Ranjeet, a resident of Barhi Bhudhi village in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh.

Sub-Inspector Berlin Singh, Hisar NCB unit in-charge, said Sub-Inspector Jasbir and his team set up a checkpoint at Surewala Chowk after receiving a tip-off about a large consignment of narcotics being smuggled from Rajasthan to Punjab.

The vehicle ferrying poppy husk was intercepted shortly thereafter, he said. Upon inspection in the presence of a gazetted officer, poppy husk was found concealed in sacks inside the truck, he said.

A case was registered under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered at the Uklana police station against the accused, he said. The police suspect that the accused may be part of a larger inter-state drug trafficking network operating across Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, he said. Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other members of the gang, he said.

The accused would be presented before a magistrate to obtain judicial custody and for further interrogation, a police spokesperson said.