An interstate narcotic drug cartel was busted by the Delhi Police Special Cell with the arrest of two of its key members, identified as Bhim Giri (43) and Rajvinder Singh (28) resident of Patiala district, Punjab. Poppy straws worth Rs 10 crore in the international market were recovered from the truck owned by the accused Bhim Giri, to transport the drugs from naxal hit Chatra district in Jharkhand, to Punjab and Haryana via Delhi.
After information was received by the team from southern range Special Cell, led by Inspector Shiv Kumar under the supervision of Attar Singh, the drug traffickers were apprehended on Tuesday from Outer ring road, near Burari flyover, Delhi, police said.
The Special Cell recovered 60 white bags containing poppy straws, one weighing 25 kg and the rest weighing 20 kg concealed in rice bhusi from the truck, police stated in the official statement. DCP Special Cell Pramod Singh Kushwah stated, “On sustained interrogation, they disclosed that they already supplied more than 800 Quintals of poppy straw in Punjab for the past 5 years. It was also revealed that Naxal affected areas of Jharkhand have became a hotbed for illegal cultivation of opium for the last 15 years. Poppy straw is in very high demand in the areas of Punjab due to low price.”
“There has been an increase in illicit cultivation of opium naxalite affected areas of Chatra, Daltanganj, latehar, Dhanbad, Gaya and more in Jharkhand aegis of these Naxlites. About a week ago, Special Cell had busted similar drug syndicate by arresting two persons and recovering 10 kgs of heroin from arrested two persons. Said heroin was also brought from Jharkhand.” DCP also noted.