Chaibasa Police Crack Down on Opium Trade, Three Arrested with Narcotics and Cash

Chaibasa: Police in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district have busted a major opium smuggling racket and arrested three alleged traffickers during a raid in Rogod Village under the Tebo police station area.

During the operation, police seized 20 kg of illegal opium poppy husk, two motorcycles allegedly used for transporting the contraband, and cash amounting to Rs 7 lakh.

According to Tebo police station in-charge Sushil Kumar Marandi, the district police had received intelligence inputs about a planned drug deal in a forested area near Rogod Village. Acting on the tip-off, a special police team was formed to carry out a search and raid operation.

Police personnel laid a trap in the forest adjoining the village and moved in as soon as the suspected smugglers gathered to finalise the transaction.

Seeing the police surround the area, the accused reportedly abandoned their motorcycles and tried to escape through the dense forest. However, the police team chased and successfully apprehended all three.

The arrested men have been identified as Buddhanath Purti and Soma Hassa Purti, both residents of Rogod Village, and Mangra Huni Purti of Kotgarh Village.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. After completing legal formalities, all three were sent to judicial custody on Friday.

Police officials said large parts of the Tebo region are covered with dense forests, which are sometimes misused for illegal opium cultivation in remote areas.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are now working to uncover the larger interstate smuggling network linked to the operation.

With inputs from IANS