PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 29: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) flying squad of Chakradharpur Division arrested three drug traffickers at Tatanagar Railway Station.
A total of 36.5 Kgs of ganja was recovered from their possession, with an estimated international market value of approximately Rs 18.25 lakh.
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The operation was carried out under the directions of Senior Divisional Security Commissioner P. Shankar Kutty as part of the ongoing “Operation Narcos” campaign across the division.
Using CCTV surveillance and intensified patrolling, the RPF team identified the suspects around 3:30 am after they alighted from the 18006 Samaleshwari Express at Platform No. 5.
Each of the three youths was carrying a backpack and a trolley bag.
Their suspicious behaviour while exiting through the new foot overbridge prompted the RPF to stop and search them.
During the search, ganja packed in plastic wrappers was recovered from their bags. During interrogation, the accused revealed that the consignment had been sourced from Rupra in Odisha and was being transported for delivery to Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Manzoor Ali (22) from West Champaran, Vivekanand Gupta (23) from Kushinagar, and Ashok Giri (40) from Balia.
All three have been handed over to the Tatanagar Railway police station for further legal proceedings.
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According to the RPF, several similar attempts at drug trafficking have been thwarted in recent months under Operation Narcos.
On November 28, 17 kg of ganja was seized from a Palamu resident, while on September 27, 20 kg was recovered from a Patna resident.
The RPF has reiterated that the anti-narcotics campaign will continue with full force to curb drug trafficking across the railway network.
