Police seize 103 kg cannabis worth 52 lakh in Muzaffarnagar breakthrough

Police in Muzaffarnagar have seized 103.90 kilograms of illegal cannabis worth approximately 52 lakh rupees and arrested a smuggler in a major breakthrough under the ongoing "Operation Savera" anti-narcotics drive.

The seizure took place when Nai Mandi police stopped and searched a suspicious tempo at Pachainda bypass on NH-58. Officers recovered the cannabis hidden inside the vehicle during the checking operation.

Police arrested Shiva, son of Dhir Singh, a resident of Bijli Bamba bypass under Lohiya Nagar police station jurisdiction in Meerut, from the spot. The tempo bearing registration number UP12AT1297, which was used in the smuggling operation, has also been seized by police.

According to police, preliminary interrogation of the accused revealed that he was smuggling cannabis in collaboration with other associates. The gang would procure cannabis from Andhra Pradesh and transport it hidden inside trucks. The contraband was then supplied at high prices in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and other neighbouring districts.

Nai Mandi police are now investigating the forward and backward links of the gang to identify other persons connected with the smuggling network.

Police have registered case number 224/26 under sections 8/21/22 of the NDPS Act against the accused and initiated further legal proceedings.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of SSP Sanjay Kumar Verma and the leadership of SP City Amrit Jain, CO Nai Mandi Raju Kumar Saw and Station House Officer Anand Dev Mishra. The Nai Mandi police station team along with the surveillance cell participated in the action.