The truck driver has been arrested, while the vehicle's owner managed to escape and has been declared wanted. (Rohit)
Muzaffarnagar: New Mandi Police have seized 174 kilograms of cannabis, estimated to be worth around Rs 1 crore, from a truck during a checking operation near Pachenda Bridge under Operation Savera. The truck driver has been arrested, while the vehicle's owner managed to escape and has been declared wanted.
According to police, the contraband was allegedly sourced from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and transported to western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand for distribution. SP City Amrit Jain shared details of the operation during a press conference held at the Police Lines auditorium on Saturday.
SP City Amrit Jain said police received information on November 14 that a truck coming from the Meerut side was carrying illegal narcotics. Acting on the tip-off, a New Mandi Police team launched an intensive checking operation on the highway near Pachenda Bridge.
When the suspected truck approached from the Meerut direction, officers stopped the vehicle and searched it. During the inspection, they recovered 174 kilograms of cannabis concealed inside the truck. The driver was taken into custody, and the vehicle was seized.
The arrested driver has been identified as Raheesh, son of Nazir Ahmed, a resident of Bhainsa Heri village under Chhapar Police Station in Muzaffarnagar. The truck used in the alleged smuggling operation bears registration number HR73A9532. Police have registered a case at New Mandi Police Station.
During preliminary questioning, Raheesh reportedly told investigators that he worked as a truck driver and that the vehicle belonged to Asif, son of Rafiq, who also lives in Bhainsa Heri.
According to the driver's statement, they regularly travelled to Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra to transport goods. They allegedly purchased cannabis at lower prices in Visakhapatnam, concealed it inside the truck and brought it back for distribution at higher prices.
The alleged supply network covered Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Roorkee, Dehradun and other nearby districts across western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Raheesh reportedly told police that truck owner Asif was also accompanying him but got off during the journey, saying he would meet him further along the route.
Police have named Asif as a wanted accused and are conducting searches to arrest him. New Mandi Police are also investigating the wider network to identify the sources and possible recipients of the seized consignment.
Reported by: Rohit
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