Chatra: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Chatra police arrested three interstate drug peddlers in two separate operations on Monday, seizing contraband worth over Rs 1 crore, officials said.
First Operation: Opium and Doda Seizure
Chatra Superintendent of Police (SP) Animesh Naithany stated that acting on specific inputs, special teams were formed under the supervision of Simaria Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Nagar Goje Shubham Bhau Saheb. Two motorcycle-borne accused, Jeevlal Ganjhu of Lutidih village and Mohammad Faizan Malik of Ichak Kala village under Simaria police station, were arrested from Bajrahi ground on the Bagra-Chatra road. Police recovered 7.19 kg of opium from their possession.
A subsequent search at Jeevlal's residence led to the seizure of 78.4 kg of doda (a poppy derivative). The total value of the narcotics recovered in this operation is estimated at around Rs 47 lakh.
“Jeevlal used to procure opium and doda and supply them to states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar through his associate, Mohammad Faizan Malik. Raids are on to arrest the absconding accused,” the SP added.
Second Operation: Large-Scale Doda and Poppy Seeds Recovery
In another incident, police received information that doda was to be transported from Ichahar forest area under Lawalong police station limits in a pick-up vehicle by four miscreants. When the police team arrived, the accused attempted to flee on seeing them. One accused, Kailash Ganjhu of Ichahar village, was arrested while the rest managed to escape.
Based on revelations made by the arrested accused, police conducted searches at three locations in the forest area and confiscated a total of 361 kg of doda, 23.8 kg of a mixture of doda and poppy seeds, and 25.2 kg of poppy seeds.
“A case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Lawalong police station,” the SP added.
Police are continuing raids to apprehend the absconding accused involved in the drug network.
