Over 800kg ganja seized in Guwahati, two arrested

Over 800 kgs of ganja (cannabis indica) was seized in Guwahati and two persons were arrested in this connection, an official said on Tuesday.

"Acting on specific intelligence, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted a vehicle at Khanapara on NH-37, Guwahati and recovered 801.420 kgs of Ganja last Sunday," a statement said.

According to it, the consignment of ganja was compressed and wrapped in brown adhesive tapes and hidden in the body cavities intentionally carved out in the floor of the vehicle.

"Two persons hailing from Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh have been arrested in connection with the case," the statement said.

A case was booked under the stringent provisions of NDPS Act 1985.

According to a DRI official, the ganja was being transported from Tripura to Uttar Pradesh.

Investigation has revealed that the body cavity in the vehicle was specially constructed by the driver of the vehicle to carry narcotics. He has admitted that in the past too, he has transported ganja for the same cartel for pecuniary gains, the DRI official said.

This is the fifth successive instance of recovery of ganja sourced from Tripura that has been detected by the agency recently in Northeast.

A total of 5,000 kgs of ganja originating from Tripura has been seized in the past few months.

The agency said largescale cultivation of ganja has been taking place in the hilly tracts and jungles of Tripura under the thick foliage of rubber plantations.

Often business persons obtain lease of land and government sanction for cultivation of rubber plants and misuse bank loans by concentrating more on cultivation of ganja, the agency added.

--IANS

bdc/nir