In a significant crackdown on interstate drug trafficking, the Tejaji Nagar police in Indore intercepted a truck and confiscated a massive haul of poppy husk. The contraband, cleverly concealed in specially fabricated compartments, weighed a substantial 87 kilograms.
Nervous Driver and a Film-Inspired Concealment
Acting on a routine check drive on the AB Road bypass, a police team stopped a truck for inspection. The driver, identified as Butta Singh, a resident of Jalandhar in Punjab, immediately aroused suspicion by appearing visibly nervous and attempting to drive away. Upon being detained and questioned, he failed to provide coherent answers.
A meticulous search of the vehicle led to the discovery. The police found that the truck had a fake diesel tank and hidden cabin spaces specifically engineered to store the narcotic substance. During interrogation, Singh allegedly revealed that he learnt this sophisticated concealment method from a film.
The Interstate Smuggling Route and Confession
The accused disclosed the modus operandi to the police. He was transporting the consignment from Agar Malwa district towards Punjab via Indore. The plan was to load legitimate goods on the return journey to avoid raising any suspicion. Singh further confessed to having carried such illegal consignments on earlier occasions as well.
He told investigators that he was paid approximately Rs 10,000 per delivery for transporting the contraband across different states. Singh also claimed that the demand for such narcotics sees a spike during the winter season, which prompted the bulk movement.
Past Record and Legal Action
The police investigation uncovered that Butta Singh was already named in a previous case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Kathgarh, Punjab. Following the current seizure, a fresh offence under the NDPS Act was registered against him.
The total value of the seized property, including the truck and the 87 kg of poppy husk, is estimated at around Rs 35 lakh. In line with the provisions of the new criminal laws, the police carried out comprehensive audio-video documentation at the scene of the seizure.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Krishna Lalchandani confirmed the arrest and seizure. The Tejaji Nagar police have seized the truck and are now conducting a deeper investigation to unravel the wider supply network and identify the buyers connected to this illegal trade.
