In a significant crackdown on narcotics, the Palamu district police have apprehended a 26-year-old man in possession of a substantial quantity of brown sugar. The arrest was made from a forest area, shedding light on an emerging drug transit route in the region.
Forest Bust Leads to Arrest
The operation took place on Thursday under the jurisdiction of the Parwa police station. Acting on a specific tip-off, a police team conducted a raid in the Madhuri Forest area. The accused, identified as Mumtaz Khan, a native of Garhwa district, was found roaming suspiciously in the wooded area. Upon noticing the police, Khan attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by the officers.
During the search, the police recovered a total of 64 grams of brown sugar from his possession. Additionally, cash amounting to Rs 1,200 was seized from him. Senior Superintendent of Police for Palamu, Reeshma Ramesan, stated that during interrogation, Khan confessed to being involved in drug peddling activities.
Drug Network and Modus Operandi Exposed
The investigation following the arrest revealed crucial details about the drug trade in the region. According to SP Ramesan, Mumtaz Khan used to procure the contraband brown sugar from Garhwa district. He would then transport and sell it in the Parwa and Daltonganj areas of Palamu district. Police officials confirmed that this drug network has links extending to Sasaram in the neighboring state of Bihar, indicating an inter-state operation.
Providing further specifics, another police official, Anchit Kumar, detailed the nature of the seized narcotic. Out of the total 64 grams, 54 grams was in a solidified form, while the remaining 9 grams was in powder form. The police also disclosed the street value of the drug, noting that a single sachet fetches around Rs 2,700 for the peddler, highlighting the lucrative nature of the illegal trade.
Garhwa Emerges as a Transit Hub
This arrest has brought attention to the changing dynamics of drug trafficking in the region. Police sources pointed out an interesting pattern. Unlike the districts of Palamu and Latehar, Garhwa district has no historical record of poppy cultivation. However, it is increasingly being used as a key transit route for smuggling narcotics into and through the state. The arrest of Mumtaz Khan, who sourced drugs from Garhwa, underscores this emerging trend.
The successful operation by the Parwa police station team signifies a proactive stance against drug peddling. The authorities are now delving deeper into the Bihar connection to dismantle the broader network supplying narcotics to the region. This case highlights the ongoing challenges and efforts in combating the drug menace in Jharkhand's tribal districts.
