The arrested men have been identified as Mohammad Juhel, 25, and Amjad, residents of Mohsand village.
LUCKNOW: The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Lucknow unit, and Dubagga police arrested two men on Tuesday and seized 6.4 kg of suspected morphine, along with other chemicals and materials linked to a narcotics network whose total haul is estimated to be worth Rs 32 crore. The arrested men have been identified as Mohammad Juhel, 25, and Amjad, both residents of Mohsand village in the Tikaitganj area under Kursi police station limits in Barabanki district. The joint team conducted a raid in Mahipat Mau village near Andhe Ki Chowki, under the jurisdiction of Dubagga police station.
The team seized 6.4 kg of suspected morphine, comprising 3.6 kg of dry powder and 2.8 kg of a wet, lump-shaped substance, according to the police recovery report. The team also recovered a .32-bore pistol, six live cartridges, ₹16,170 in cash, six mobile phones, a scooter, a Hyundai Venue car, and a substantial quantity of chemicals and other materials. The overall estimated value of ₹32 crore attributed to morphine and other psychotropic substances relates to the wider alleged network. The initial recovery memo, however, specifically lists 6.4 kg of material described as suspected morphine, along with chemicals and other items.
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Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash said the action was part of the Uttar Pradesh Police’s ongoing drive against drug trafficking and illegal narcotics manufacturing under its zero-tolerance policy towards crime. SP, ANTF, Chakresh Mishra, who led the crackdown, said Juhel, a BPharma graduate, masterminded the narcotics operation. The network allegedly procured raw materials from northeastern states, including Assam and Manipur, and supplied narcotic substances to destinations across the country based on orders received, according to information provided during the investigation. “To remove the impurities and before dispatching, chemical processes were carried out at a house rented by Juhel and his aides in Lucknow,” Mishra said. “The gang had been operating for the past five years,” he said. “We are examining the seized phones, vehicles and chemicals to identify other people involved and establish the extent of the operation,” the officer added. Another officer privy to the probe, while explaining the modus operandi, said the two arrested men would rent houses in rural areas on the outskirts of the city for four to five months, use them to manufacture psychotropic substances and then sell the products in the market. The officer said buyers would place orders and collect consignments from the rented premises using a bucket tied to a rope, without coming face-to-face with the manufacturers.
The entire pan-India supply chain, including the procurement of raw materials, processing arrangements and distribution channels, is now under scrutiny. They would subsequently shift their base to another location to evade police detection. The money was also collected physically through this arrangement, ensuring that buyers and the accused never met directly and minimising the risk of being identified or traced by investigators. The exact nature, quantity and valuation of any additional narcotic substances will require confirmation. Download the TOI App.