At the Mehsana toll plaza in Gujarat, the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) Madhya Pradesh unit found 4,433.45 kg of poppy straw concealed behind boxes of a well-known biscuit brand and packed in 206 plastic bags, according to an official on Tuesday.
According to sources, the stock’s market value is thought to be around Rs 1 crore. According to the official, two people have been detained in connection with the drug seizure.
A team of CBN officers from Mandsaur and Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh was formed and sent on May 28 to track the carrier after specific intelligence information indicated that a container truck with the registration number of Rajasthan would be transporting a significant amount of poppy straw from Jharkhand to Rajasthan via Gujarat.
Strict surveillance was maintained on the suspected route and after successful identification of the vehicle by CBN officers, the truck was intercepted at the Mehsana toll plaza in Gujarat, the official said.
‘In continuance of the anti-drug operations, on the basis of specific intelligence, officers of the CBN’s MP unit intercepted a container truck at Mehsana toll plaza, Gujarat on May 28-29 and recovered 206 plastic bags of poppy straw weighing 4433.45 kg,” he said.
The truck was carrying boxes of ‘Parle-G Biscuit’ as cover cargo, the official said. On sustained questioning, the two truck occupants revealed the poppy straw was loaded in the vehicle behind the cover cargo, he said.
As it was not possible to search the vehicle on the highway due to safety, security issues and bad weather conditions, it was decided to bring it to the CBN office here, the official said.
‘After reaching the CBN office, the vehicle was thoroughly searched and a total of 206 plastic bags of poppy straw weighing 4433.45 kg were recovered from behind 218 boxes of Parle-G biscuits,’ an official release said.
The poppy straw, cover cargo and the truck were seized and the two persons were apprehended under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the release said. Further investigation is on, it added.