TWO DRUD PEDDLERS ARRESTED WITH HERION

TWO DRUD PEDDLERS ARRESTED WITH HERION

10-OCT-ENG 12

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA----------------------------A case has come to light in the Bihiya police station area of ​​Bhojpur district where an alleged narcotics trade was being run under the guise of a dairy business (cattle shed). Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid in Dharhara village and recovered 1 kg 328 grams of a heroin-like substance. The police have estimated the value of the seized contraband at approximately ₹2.75 crore.

Two accused were arrested at the scene. They have been identified as Ashok Pandey (son of Baleshwar Pandey), a resident of Boranpur village under the Bahoranpur police station area, and Upendra Rai (son of Shivaji Rai) from the Bahoranpur area.

Jagdishpur SDPO Rahul Kumar shared details of the case during a press conference held at the Bihiya police station on Friday. He stated that, following instructions from the Bhojpur SP, a continuous campaign is being conducted across the district against the buying, selling, storage, and smuggling of narcotics. As part of this effort, the police received confidential information on October 8 regarding the storage of narcotics in Dharhara village.

Following the tip-off, the police formed a raid team. The team raided Ashok Pandey's house in Dharhara village and arrested both accused. According to the police, a search of the room was conducted in the presence of a magistrate.

During the search, 1 kg 19 grams of a heroin-like substance was recovered from a black bag hanging from a latch behind the room's door. Two electronic weighing scales, along with currency notes (denominations of ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, and ₹500) and coins, were also found in the room.

Subsequently, acting on information provided by Upendra Rai, the police searched a black Honda motorcycle parked in front of the house. 309 grams of narcotics were recovered from a bag concealed beneath the battery on the right side of the motorcycle.

According to the police, the total quantity of the substance recovered from the house and the motorcycle is 1 kg 328 grams. An FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) analysis is being conducted to confirm the exact nature of the seized substance.

Police stated that Upendra Rai had been running a dairy business—operating a cattle shed—at Ashok Pandey's house for the past two years or so. Preliminary interrogation has yielded significant leads regarding the buying and selling of narcotics.

The police are now working to determine the source of the narcotics and the individuals to whom they were being supplied. The involvement of other persons in the matter is also being investigated; police suspect that others linked to this illicit trade may be part of the network.

During the raid, the police recovered three mobile phones, ₹2,576 in cash, a Honda motorcycle, two electronic weighing scales, and a total of three ATM cards (from Axis Bank and SBI). Additionally, the Aadhaar cards and PAN cards of both accused individuals were seized.

The police are scrutinizing the criminal history of the arrested accused. Simultaneously, the backward and forward linkages of the narcotics network are being investigated to trace both the suppliers and the buyers.

SDPO Rahul Kumar stated that a special team has been constituted to effectively curb the narcotics trade. The team is engaged in identifying those involved in this business and gathering information regarding their illicit earnings.

A case has been registered at Bihiya Police Station under the NDPS Act (FIR No. 329/26), and further action is underway. The police are preparing to remand both accused to judicial custody. Raids are continuing at suspected locations to apprehend other individuals linked to the network. The raiding team included Bihiya Station House Officer (SHO) Vipin Bihari, Additional SHO Ramkumar, Sub-Inspectors Mukesh Kumar and Arun Kumar, Probationary Sub-Inspector Roshan Kumar, and armed police personnel.