Truck driver from Bihar held with 54kg cannabis worth ₹15 lakh

Varanasi: Under Operation Chakravyuh, a joint team of Lohta Police and SOG Varanasi on Tuesday afternoon arrested an inter-state smuggler carrying 54.160 kg of illegal cannabis, worth Rs 15 lakh.

According to reports, at around 4.50PM, a goods carrier truck coming from the direction of Harahua block was stopped during checking near the Sabhaipur underpass under the Lohta police station area.

The accused truck driver, Vakeel Bind, resident of Rohtas district (Bihar), initially said that he was travelling from Bihar to Prayagraj to pick up fruits. However, a thorough search of the truck by the police led to the discovery of 54.160kg of cannabis, hidden inside a divider built at the front of the truck.

The accused confessed that he had purchased the drug from another state and concealed it in the truck to sell in local markets for higher profit.

Interrogation revealed that the accused had previously been jailed in an NDPS Act case in Odisha. His criminal history in other states is also being investigated.

A case has been registered at Lohta police station under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act, and legal action is being taken.