In a significant crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Patna Police on Sunday dismantled a major interstate ganja smuggling racket, arresting six individuals and recovering a massive 84 kilograms of cannabis worth approximately ₹1 crore in the black market.
Tip-Off Leads to Dramatic Interception
The operation was a joint effort by the Chitragupt Nagar police station and the district intelligence unit. Acting on specific intelligence, a police team intercepted a suspicious car. As the officers approached, five men inside attempted to flee but were swiftly apprehended.
A thorough search of the vehicle revealed 34 kg of ganja cleverly concealed inside two trolley bags and a large sack. The arrested men were identified as Anil Chaudhary, Satyam Gupta, Dilkhush Kumar, Arvind Kumar, and Amit Raj, all hailing from Vaishali district.
Mastermind Nabbed in Follow-Up Raid
During interrogation, the arrested couriers confessed to running an organized supply chain and disclosed the location of their operational base—a rented flat in Ashok Nagar. Police immediately raided the premises and arrested the alleged mastermind, Vicky Kumar Jaiswal.
The raid on the flat yielded another 50 kg of ganja, along with crucial evidence including four mobile phones and two walkie-talkies. The flat was being used as a packing and distribution hub. Authorities also seized three vehicles, including luxury SUVs, used in the smuggling operations.
Modus Operandi and Interstate Network
City SP (East) Parichay Kumar detailed the gang's sophisticated modus operandi. The contraband was sourced from Agartala and Guwahati at a cost of ₹18,000–₹20,000 per kilogram. It was then smuggled into Patna via train, hidden in innocuous-looking trolley bags.
Couriers were paid around ₹2,000 per trip. Patna served as a critical transit point where the ganja was repackaged before being supplied to high-demand markets in Delhi and Varanasi, where it was sold for a staggering ₹80,000–₹90,000 per kg.
The gang had been operating successfully for several months and had ambitious plans to establish a formal office in Delhi to expand their network.
Investigation Expands, Key Suspect at Large
Police revealed that Vicky's brother, Ricky, is currently absconding, and multiple raids are underway to locate him. Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of 10 to 15 more individuals in this sprawling network. A deeper probe is ongoing to unravel the entire supply chain and identify all financiers and beneficiaries.
This bust highlights Patna's vulnerability as a transit hub for interstate drug cartels and marks a major victory for the local police in their ongoing war against narcotics smuggling.
