More than 2,500 kg of poppy straw seized in Gujarat

The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Central Bureau of Narcotics seizes 2,597 kg of poppy straw hidden behind bags of dry red chilli in a truck in Gujarat

The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) has seized 2,597 kilograms of poppy straw hidden behind bags of dry red chilli in a truck in neighbouring Gujarat, an official said on June 3.

The operation was conducted on June 1 following a tip-off, in which the CBN intercepted a truck with a Rajasthan number plate near a hotel at Untiya in Vadodara, he said.

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"As per the information received, the poppy straw was being transported from Jharkhand to Rajasthan via Gujarat. Accordingly, strict surveillance was put in place on the route and after identification of the vehicle by CBN officers, it was stopped," he said.

It was found that the truck was carrying white plastic bags of dry red chilli as cover cargo. On sustained questioning, the occupant of the vehicle revealed that the poppy straw was loaded in the truck behind the cover cargo, officials said.

As it was not possible to search the truck on the highway due to safety and security issues, it was decided to bring the vehicle to the nearest CBN office, they said. After being brought to the CBN office, the vehicle was thoroughly searched and a total of 104 white plastic bags containing poppy straw of 2,597.850 kg were recovered behind the 50 bags of dry red chilli, the officials added.

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