18 Kg Heroin Trafficked From Northeast Seized Near Lucknow, 3 Arrested

The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) has seized 18.64 kg of crude heroin in two back-to-back operations near Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. The contraband had originated in the country's northeastern region and was being trafficked for consumption in Uttar Pradesh. 

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, three key members of an inter-state drug trafficking network have been arrested.

Acting on inputs about the movement of narcotics from the northeast to Lucknow, CBN officials set up a cordon along the Sultanpur-Lucknow Highway on the intervening night of August 20 and 21.

After tracking the movement of vehicles across multiple toll plazas, officials intercepted an Assam-registered SUV near Lucknow on August 21.

"The vehicle appeared empty and its occupants claimed innocence. However, suspicious arose when they disclosed during questioning that they had refuelled four times within a span of just 500 km," the statement said.

A physical tapping test of the fuel tank revealed a hollow acoustic anomaly. The vehicle was then taken to the CBN office in Lucknow, where technical assistance was used to dismantle the fuel tank.

Officials discovered a specially fabricated compartment inside the tank containing 25 waterproof packets holding 16.46 kg of crude heroin.

In a seperate operation, intelligence inputs received by the CBN's Uttar Pradesh unit indicated that a truck transporting contraband along the Siliguri-Lucknow corridor. The vehicle was tracked across multiple toll plazas before being intercepted near Barabanki. 

A systematic search of the truck led to the recovery of 2.16 kg of crude heroin. One suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.

All three accused have been booked under stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The vehicles used for transportation and the seized contraband have been confiscated, officials said.