In a significant crackdown on narcotics smuggling, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) police station in Barabanki achieved a major success on Tuesday. The operation led to the arrest of two active drug traffickers and the confiscation of a large consignment of illegal ganja weighing over 81 kilograms, with an estimated street value of around Rs 50 lakh.
Details of the Arrest and Seizure
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Ankur Shivhare (35) and Shyam Shivhare (40), both residents of Jalaun district. According to police officials, the duo was intercepted and apprehended near Iglas Pura Chauraha, approximately 150 metres from the Orai police station area.
During a thorough search following the arrest, the ANTF team recovered the substantial haul of contraband. The seized items included:
- 81.824 kilograms of illegal ganja (marijuana).
- One Alto 800 car believed to be used for transportation.
- An Android mobile phone.
- Rs 800 in cash.
A formal case has been registered against the accused under sections 8, 20, 29, and 60 of the NDPS Act, 1985, and further legal proceedings are currently underway.
Interrogation Revelations and Criminal History
During preliminary interrogation, the arrested traffickers confessed to their modus operandi. They revealed that they jointly pooled money to procure the ganja from source areas, which was then sold to customers at a significantly higher price to generate profit. The accused claimed that these illicit profits were used to support their families.
Police investigations have taken a more serious turn with the discovery of the accused's criminal past. Police records indicate that both Ankur and Shyam Shivhare have a history of criminal activities. They have been previously implicated in cases under the stringent NDPS Act, the Gangster Act, and other serious offences registered in the districts of Jalaun and Jhansi.
Ongoing Investigation and Network Bust
The Barabanki ANTF is not stopping at this arrest. Authorities have successfully obtained crucial information from the accused regarding the local markets that served as the source for the contraband. Leveraging these details, the police are now actively working to establish both forward and backward linkages of this drug network.
The focus is on identifying and taking decisive legal action against other members involved in the supply chain, from suppliers to distributors. This operation marks a continued effort by the Uttar Pradesh police to dismantle organized drug trafficking rings operating in the region.
