UP man nabbed with 80-kg cannabis

Tribune Reporters

Ludhiana, March 18

Tightening the noose around drug peddlers, the Khanna police have arrested a man with 80 kg of cannabis. They have claimed that it is one of the biggest recoveries of cannabis in the state.

Khanna SSP Dhruv Dahiya said, “A police party was conducting the checking of vehicles and some persons near a mosque at Libra village. When the driver of a Kwid car bearing a UP number saw the police, he tried to flee but he was nabbed,” said Dahiya.

During preliminary investigation, the person identified himself as Faiz Mohammad of Jalalpur district in UP. A total of 80 kg of cannabis (ganja) was found in his car. There were around 16 packets of the drug, each weighing 5 kg. A case under Sections 20, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act was registered at the Sadar police station in Khanna. Dahiya said the investigation was underway. “We are trying to get details about suppliers and buyers in Punjab,” he said.

Sources said cannabis was available for approximately Rs 25,000 per kg in India and international prices could be higher.

In Sangrur, the Dhuri Sadar and Badrukhan police confiscated 2,500 habit-forming tablets and arrested two persons on Sunday night.

“Last night, we arrested Ashok Kumar on the Benra-Pedhni Kalan road and seized 1,200 habit-forming tablets from his possession,” said ASI Malkit Singh of the Dhuri Sadar police station.

The Badrukhan police post also arrested a person. “On Monday night, we arrested Mithu Ram from near Bahadurpur and seized 1,300 habit-forming tablets from his possession. We have registered a case,” said ASI Gurtej Singh.

In Fatehgarh Sahib, the district police claimed to have arrested nine persons and recovered 6 kg of opium, 11,000 boxes of liquor, 880 intoxicant tablets and injections.

Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, Amneet Kondal, SSP, said during a search near the Sirhind railway station on Sunday night, Balinder Sahni, a resident of Motihari district, was arrested with 6 kg opium. She said during checking at nakas, the police recovered 11,000 boxes of smuggled liquor of various brands and arrested five persons. They were booked under the Excise Act.

She said the Sirhind police and the Kheri Naudh Singh Police arrested three peddlers and recovered 880 intoxicant tablets and injections. They admitted that they used to supply it to rural areas.