In a major anti-narcotics mission police in Mandsaur have smuggled out 20 kg of brown sugar worth nearly ₹30 crore from the illegal market and arrested an alleged interstate drug trafficking syndicate. Five people suspected of being traffickers have been arrested, including a woman, and one of the suspects is still on the run.
Police officials say the operation was initiated when an informant reported a tip-off that narcotics were being transported in a four-wheeler. Officers from the New Abadi police station reacted quickly and established checkpoints, and initiated thorough vehicle inspections in the area. A suspicious vehicle was stopped and searched during the operation, during which the large quantity of brown sugar was discovered.
Hemant Verma of Indore and Mona Sen of Indore, Rahul Meena, Subhash Gurjar and Jitendra Meena of Pratapgarh were arrested. Police said another accused, Aziz alias Ejaz, is also on the run and the police officers are trying to find him.
An enquiry have been opened under NDPS Act and investigators are now interrogating the accused to know where the drugs were coming from and where the consignment was going. Police believe the abductions could be connected to a broader trafficking scheme that extends from state to state.
Besides the narcotics, police have recovered two cars and seven cellphones they believe were involved in the operation. Investigators are still working on the case and have more arrests and information to come in the next few days.