Five Alleged International Drug Traffickers Arrested in Lucknow With Cannabis Consignment Worth ₹2 Crore

Lucknow: Hussainganj police arrested five international drug traffickers with 7.7 kg of suspected cannabis smuggled from Thailand and meant for supply in Delhi, in Charbagh area late Tuesday night.

Those arrested were in an SUV and on seeing a checking point, they attempted to flee. The vehicle was chased and stopped. Inspector Shiv Mangal Singh said Priyanshu Tiwari, Rahul Sharma, Brijesh Rathore, Ravikant Tripathi and Deepak Tyagi were arrested.

Police seized 7.7 kg cannabis valued at Rs 2 crore in international market along with the SUV and eight mobile phones.

Police said the group was part of an international narcotics trafficking network and Ravikant Tripathi was operating while residing in Bangkok.

Tripathi arrived in Lucknow on May 4. Police said Brijesh Rathore had been handed the cannabis consignment in Bangkok and he travelled to India with the drugs before arriving at Lucknow airport on Tuesday.

The plan was to transport the consignment from Lucknow to Delhi in the SUV. Deepak Tyagi was tasked with retail distribution in Delhi, while the others handled supply logistics. The gang was preparing to send Deepak Tyagi to Delhi by bus with the narcotics.

All five were booked under sections of NDPS Act.