DRI seizes 520kg of ganja, 2 arrested in Ludhiana

LUDHIANA: In one of biggest seizures of ganja by a central agency in Punjab in past one year, the zonal unit of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Ludhiana, seized 520 kg of cannabis, which was being transported in a truck. Two persons have been arrested.
The approximate value of the seized contraband is said to be more than Rs 1 crore.
The exercise was carried out under instructions of Nitin Saini, additional director general, DRI.
Both the accused have been sent to 14-day judicial remand after they were produced in a court on Monday.
Prior to this, the biggest seizure was in September 2021 when DRI had seized 428 kg of ganja in an operation in Neechi Mangli area of the city.
Sources in the agency said, "Based on specific intelligence, officers of DRI, Ludhiana zonal unit, intercepted a truck on National Highway-1 near ICD-GRFL Ludhiana around 8.30pm on January 8. The said truck was found loaded with 18 bags of ganja, weighing 519.950 kg and these packets were concealed in a secret cavity behind the driver's cabin of the truck. The consignment of ganja was coming from Sonepur, Odisha and was destined for Ludhiana."
Sources said, "The contraband, truck and packaging material were seized under the provisions of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Both persons have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation in this case is in progress."