Mandsaur: The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), Madhya Pradesh Unit, has seized 2,774.650 kg of illicit poppy straw, known locally as dodachura, in three separate enforcement operations conducted between October 27 and 29, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a release issued on Saturday, October 31. Five vehicles were seized and four persons were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
2,308 kg hidden under chana husk on Mumbai-Delhi Expressway
In the largest operation, on October 27, a CBN team acting on specific intelligence intercepted a Rajasthan-registered container truck on the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway near Sitamau. The truck was suspected of carrying a large quantity of poppy straw towards Punjab. A search recovered 2,308 kg of poppy straw packed in 115 white sacks, concealed beneath 598 white sacks of chana husk used as cover cargo. The contraband and the truck were seized and one person was arrested, the PIB release said.
416 kg seized in Mandsaur village operation; one suspect fled
On the intervening night of October 28 and 29, a joint CBN team intercepted a Mahindra pickup truck bearing a suspected fake registration number and a Mahindra Bolero car at Ishaqpur village in Mandsaur district. One person was apprehended, while another suspect abandoned the Bolero and fled after a brief chase, according to the release. A search of the two vehicles recovered 416.560 kg of poppy straw packed in 22 plastic bags — 17 bags in the pickup and five in the Bolero. Both vehicles and the contraband were seized and one person was arrested under the NDPS Act.
In the third operation, on October 28, CBN officers intercepted a Madhya Pradesh-registered Hyundai Grand i10 car and a TVS motorcycle on the Fatehgarh-Nayakheda-Pipliya Mandi route. The motorcycle was allegedly piloting the car, which was suspected of carrying around 50 to 60 kg of poppy straw from Fatehgarh Fanta towards Pipliya Mandi. A search of the car recovered 50.090 kg of poppy straw packed in two bags. The car and motorcycle were seized and two persons were arrested.
The CBN said further investigation is underway in all three cases. The bureau said the coordinated operations were part of its continued drive against illicit cultivation, production, possession and trafficking of narcotic drugs, and its commitment to the national Nasha Mukt Bharat mission.