The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested two persons from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan and seized around 234 kg of opium, largest haul of the year so far, from the possession of the duo.

The accused have been identified as R Lal, a resident of district Chittorgarh and MK Dhakad, a resident of Bhilwara in Rajasthan. According to KPS Malhotra, the NCB Deputy Director, Operations, on July 19 based on specific inputs, the NCB, Jodhpur unit raided the residential premises of R Lal a and seized 233.976 kg of Opium.

“The seizure of the contraband took place in the house of R. Lal. Intelligence and investigation point to the fact that the consignment belongs to Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan based drug traffickers. Another accused M K Dhakad was also arrested for his involvement in the criminal conspiracy to assist these traffickers,” said the Deputy Director.

“During preliminary investigation it was revealed that the opium was sourced from licit cultivation area of Chittorgarh and was destined to Jodhpur, Rajasthan,” he said.

 “Further investigation of the case is underway with a specific focus on the Drug Trafficking Network involved and the linkages they have in the licit opium production areas,” said the Deputy Director.

“During seizure and further investigation it has also been learnt that some of the legal cultivators, especially those in the districts of Mandsaur, Neemuch and Ratlam of Madhya Pradesh and Chittorgarh and Jhalawar of Rajasthan divert it to the illegal channel and sell it to intermediaries for profit,” said the deputy director.

“These intermediaries traffic this Opium to other parts of the country for consumption and conversion to Heroin. The seized Opium in this case is also sourced from licit cultivation in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan,” he added.