The Varanasi field unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), conducted a raid at a courier company warehouse in the Parmanandpur area under Rohania police station on Sunday. The operation led to the recovery of 123 kilograms of ganja (cannabis), valued at approximately Rs 30 lakh, and the arrest of one individual.
Accused Identified
The arrested suspect has been identified as Premchand Maurya, a resident of Jahanaganj in Azamgarh district. During initial interrogation, Maurya disclosed that a man named Bablu Varman from Guwahati was the mastermind behind the smuggling operation. Bablu, in collusion with the local manager of the courier company, allegedly sent the cannabis consignments to Varanasi, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, and Deoria.
Modus Operandi
To evade detection, the packets were labeled as silk saree consignments with fake names and addresses. The smugglers would collect the goods from the warehouse by providing the fake mobile numbers mentioned on the receipts. The cannabis was reportedly sold online at a rate of Rs 3,800 per kilogram.
Officials stated that the raid was based on intelligence inputs regarding large-scale cannabis smuggling through courier services. Further investigations are underway to trace the network and apprehend other individuals involved.
