New Delhi, June 25 : In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking under the Government of India's flagship Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the South-East District Police has busted an interstate ganja smuggling network and seized 183 kilograms of contraband valued at around Rs 1.5 crore in the illegal market.

The operation led to the arrest of three key members of the syndicate, including the alleged mastermind and owner of the truck used to transport the narcotics. According to Delhi Police, the contraband was ingeniously concealed inside a specially fabricated secret compartment built above the driver's cabin of a truck container.

Police said the seizure has dealt a significant blow to an interstate trafficking network operating across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR.

According to officials, the breakthrough came after the AATS received specific Intelligence on June 13, indicating that a truck container bearing registration number UP44AT2502 was carrying a large consignment of ganja from Uttar Pradesh towards Delhi via the Bombay Expressway during the intervening night of June 13 and 14.

The information was verified by SI Anil Kumar and shared with Inspector Ajay Dalal, In-Charge of AATS, who subsequently informed ACP Kalkaji V.K.P.S. Yadav. Acting on the tip-off, a special raiding team was constituted to intercept the vehicle and take action under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The team, comprising SI Anil Kumar, SI Jitender Raghuvanshi, HC Sher Singh, HC Krishan, HC Zuber Khan, Constable Lakpa Tenzing Sherpa, Constable Akshay, Constable Shivam and Constable Hemen Deka, was deployed near Kalindi Kunj Metro Station under the leadership of Inspector Dalal and the supervision of ACP Yadav.

At around 1:50 A.M. on June 14, the suspected truck was spotted moving towards Delhi and was intercepted near the Indian Oil LPG Plant on the Kalindi Kunj-Madanpur Khadar Road.

Police identified the occupants of the vehicle as Subodh Kumar Mishra, the driver, and Brij Kishore Tiwari, his associate and helper. During a detailed search conducted in the presence of senior officers and crime team officials, investigators discovered a specially designed hidden cabin above the driver's compartment. The concealed section could only be accessed through a secret hatch.

Inside the compartment, police recovered 38 packets wrapped in brown adhesive tape. Upon examination, the packets were found to contain ganja. A total of 183 kilograms of the contraband was seized.

Following the recovery, a case was registered under FIR No. 387/2026 under relevant Sections of the NDPS Act, and further investigation was assigned to SI Jitender of AATS, South-East District.

During interrogation, the arrested accused allegedly revealed that they were involved in transporting commercial quantities of ganja from suppliers based in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh to buyers in Delhi-NCR and nearby regions.

The investigation further revealed that the operation was allegedly being coordinated by Shriram, the owner of the truck and the alleged kingpin of the syndicate. Police said he was responsible for arranging the procurement, transportation and delivery of narcotics through a well-organised interstate network.

Based on disclosures made by the accused and technical surveillance, police traced and arrested Shriram from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. Investigators are now working to identify the source suppliers, financiers and other members linked to the trafficking network.

The three arrested accused have been identified as Subodh Kumar Mishra (40), a resident of Bettiah in Bihar's West Champaran district; Brij Kishore Tiwari (36), also a resident of Bettiah; and Shriram, a resident of Makdoompur village in the Sultanpur-Ayodhya region of Uttar Pradesh.

Police said Shriram has previously been involved in three NDPS cases related to commercial quantities of narcotics.

Apart from the 183 kg of ganja, the truck container used to transport the contraband has also been seized.

/IANS