Major Drug Bust: International Syndicate Dismantled Near Gorakhpur
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) delivered a significant blow to international drug trafficking operations on Monday, arresting five members of a sophisticated narcotics syndicate and confiscating a massive 635.5 kg of ganja valued at approximately ₹1.5 crore. The dramatic interception occurred near Dubiyari Bridge along the busy Gorakhpur-Deoria road, where authorities stopped both a container truck and an SUV carrying the illegal consignment.
Intelligence Operation Uncovers Elaborate Smuggling Route
According to Deputy SP of STF Dharmesh Shahi, the breakthrough came after months of meticulous intelligence gathering that exposed a well-established Nepal–Bihar–UP narcotics transportation route used to distribute drugs across multiple Indian states. Acting on these carefully developed leads, STF units significantly intensified surveillance operations throughout the Purvanchal region.
The operation reached its climax when a reliable tip-off alerted authorities that a container truck and a Scorpio vehicle, both heavily loaded with substantial quantities of ganja, were traveling from Mugling, Nepal, toward Bihar. A coordinated team comprising STF and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) personnel from Gorakhpur successfully intercepted both vehicles at approximately 3:40 pm, leading to the immediate arrest of all five suspects.
Arrested Accused and Their Elaborate Modus Operandi
Those taken into custody include Jitendra Yadav (40) and Raju Yadav (40) from Motihari, Bihar; Navraj Shrestha from Parsa, Nepal; and Sunil Kumar Rai (30) and Rajan Tiwari (25) from West Champaran, Bihar.
During interrogation, the alleged kingpin Jitendra Yadav confessed that he had jointly procured the massive drug consignment with Nepal-based trafficker Achhelal Yadav. The investigation revealed that the ganja had been carefully packed into 41 separate packets and concealed within specially designed cavities under the hood of the container truck at Mugling, Nepal, by Navraj Shrestha and his associates.
The smuggling operation followed an elaborate protocol: Shrestha accompanied the truck until the Sonauli border, after which driver Sunil Rai transported it to Gorakhpur and handed over control to another driver, Rajan Tiwari. The Scorpio vehicle, carrying Jitendra, Raju, and Navraj, traveled alongside the container as a escort vehicle. The trio had also separated two packets from the main consignment for independent delivery as instructed by their Nepal-based handler.
Additional Seizures and Ongoing Investigation
Beyond the massive drug haul, authorities recovered substantial evidence including seven mobile phones, cash in both Indian and Nepali currency, forged number plates, driving licenses, and a PAN card. The accused revealed during questioning that they had been successfully transporting narcotics through this established route for several years before this interception.
The NCB Gorakhpur team has now taken charge of further legal proceedings, which include precise weighing, proper sealing, and sending the seized contraband for comprehensive chemical analysis. STF officials confirmed that additional arrests are expected as investigators continue tracing the network's extensive financial and logistical routes.
This operation represents a significant achievement in disrupting international drug trafficking activities and highlights the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies.
