Pioneer News Service
Daltonganj
Satbarwa police in Palamu district seized 121 kg of cannabis, estimated to be worth around Rs 60 lakh in the narcotics market, after intercepting a car on NH-39 in the early hours of Wednesday.
Two persons travelling in the vehicle were arrested in connection with the seizure. They have been identified as Sanoj Yadav (25), a driver by profession, and Shambhu Yadav (30), who runs a Bank of India customer service point in Palamu. Both are residents of Jhaber village under Satbarwa police station.
Palamu Superintendent of Police Kapil Chaudhary, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday evening, said police received a tip-off around 11.30 pm on Tuesday about a car carrying a large quantity of cannabis and moving towards Daltonganj on NH-39.
Acting swiftly on the information, a Satbarwa police team led by probationary DySP Mirtunjay Gope launched vehicle checking on the highway within about half an hour. At around 12.05 am on Wednesday, the suspected car was intercepted and searched, leading to the recovery of 121 kg of cannabis, the SP said.
According to police, the consignment had originated in Sambalpur, Odisha, and was allegedly being transported to Harihurganj, located near Palamu’s border with Bihar, for delivery.
The vehicle, bearing a Jharkhand registration number, was seized. Police also recovered two additional number plates bearing Odisha government registration numbers from the vehicle. The SP said the recovery of multiple number plates indicated that the smugglers may have been using them as part of a strategy to evade detection.
Two mobile phones were also seized from the accused. Police said there was no cash recovery in the case.
The two accused were produced before a court on Wednesday and sent to judicial custody under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Police are now investigating the source of the consignment, its intended recipients and the wider network allegedly involved in transporting cannabis from Odisha to Jharkhand.
