Three held with over 21kg opium in Bhilwara

Bhilwara: Rayla police in Bhilwara district, along with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), carried out a joint operation against illegal narcotics Friday, seizing 21kg 739 grams of opium from a pickup vehicle and arresting three alleged smugglers.Bhilwara superintendent of police Dharmendra Singh said the action was part of a special campaign against narcotics smuggling in the district. Under Shahpura additional superintendent of police Rajesh Arya and the leadership of Rayla station house officer Mulchand Varma, a joint team of ANTF and Rayla police set up a blockade on the Bhilwara–Jaipur National Highway and began checking vehicles.During the drive, a pickup coming from the Bhilwara side was stopped and searched. Police found 21kg 739 grams of opium packed in 12 plastic bags inside the vehicle.The police seized the contraband and arrested Manphul (26) from Bikaner district, Subhash Chandra Juriya (35) and Kailash (20) from Ganganagar district. A case was registered under the NDPS Act, and the accused are being interrogated.Police said that with the opium harvesting season underway in districts like Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Pratapgarh, the chances of smuggling increase. SP Singh has directed all police stations in the district to take strict action to curb illegal transportation of opium.