Kushinagar (UP), April 4 A joint team of the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force has arrested two interstate drug smugglers, along with the recovery of over 2 kg of heroin worth approximately Rs 5 crore, officials said on Saturday.
Superintendent of Police Keshav Kumar said the accused are residents of Bihar and Jharkhand and were part of an interstate narcotics network.
Efforts are underway to identify and arrest other members of the racket, he said, adding that strict action would be ensured against drug traffickers.
According to police, the accused were identified as Vinod Sahani, a resident of Gudra under Majhaulia police station in West Champaran district of Bihar, and Rahul Kumar from the Gidhaur police station area in Chatra district of Jharkhand.
A case has been registered, and both were produced before a Kushinagar court, which remanded them in judicial custody, they said.
Police said the ANTF Barabanki team, along with Kasya police, was conducting a check near an overbridge close to a canal bridge on a service lane in the Kasya area when the two suspects were intercepted. A search of their bags led to the recovery of 2.505 kg of a narcotic substance, which was later confirmed to be heroin.
During interrogation, the smugglers allegedly confessed that they procured opium in large quantities, processed it into heroin, and sold it at high prices, police said.