VARANASI: The special drive launched by police on the directive of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has started exposing the huge network of drug peddlers, liquor smugglers and hooch makers in the districts of Varanasi zone.
Only in the first week of the fortnight-long special drive, as many as 256 drug mafia and peddlers have been arrested and narcotics substances including ganja, heroin and charas worth Rs 1.85 crore have been seized in Varanasi zone. The menace of liquor mafia and hooch makers also came to light during this drive and 849 cases were registered only in one week following seizure of smuggled liquor and hooch of Rs 1.02 crore.
Sharing details with TOI on Tuesday, ADG Varanasi zone Ram Kumar said, “The drive was launched on August 24. Till August 31, a total of 221 cases of drug peddling were registered after the arrest of 246 persons while involvement of more persons had also come to light. In the first half of the drive, narcotics substances including ganja, heroin, charas and others of Rs 1,84,78,566 value were seized. A total of 75 persons were booked under Gangster Act while properties of Rs 28.95 lakh of 19 were attached.”
Under this drive, districts in Varanasi range ensured seizure of ganja, heroin and other narcotics substances of over Rs 1 crore in 89 cases. Jaunpur police registered a maximum 58 cases by arresting an equal number of peddlers. Ghazipur cops seized narcotics substances of Rs 8.82 lakh in eight cases only. Two drug peddlers were also booked under Gangster Act in Jaunpur and properties of Rs 20 lakhs were attached.
In Azamgarh range, 94 cases of drug peddling were registeredfollowing seizure of narcotics substances of Rs 26.41 lakh. Maximum seizures of Rs 10.33 lakh were made in Mau while Azamgarh cops seized drugs of Rs 8.40 lakhs and booked 25 under Gangster Act. Ballia cops registered 48 cases and made seizures of Rs 7.66 lakhs only while seven were booked under Gangster Act.
Cops in Mirzapur range identified involvement of 65 persons in 38 registered cases of drug peddling and action was initiated against 56 of them following seizure of narcotics substances of Rs 57.00 lakh. A total of 34 peddlers were booked under Gangster Act and seizure of properties of Rs 89.50 lakh was initiated against 10.
ADG said, “A total of 849 cases of liquor smuggling were registered between August 24 and 31 and 879 smugglers and hooch makers were caught. Liquor and hooch of over Rs 1 crore was revovered. As many as 45 smugglers and hooch makers were booked under Gangster Act while properties of 11 of Rs 79.66 lakh were also seized.”
Only in the first week of the fortnight-long special drive, as many as 256 drug mafia and peddlers have been arrested and narcotics substances including ganja, heroin and charas worth Rs 1.85 crore have been seized in Varanasi zone. The menace of liquor mafia and hooch makers also came to light during this drive and 849 cases were registered only in one week following seizure of smuggled liquor and hooch of Rs 1.02 crore.
Sharing details with TOI on Tuesday, ADG Varanasi zone Ram Kumar said, “The drive was launched on August 24. Till August 31, a total of 221 cases of drug peddling were registered after the arrest of 246 persons while involvement of more persons had also come to light. In the first half of the drive, narcotics substances including ganja, heroin, charas and others of Rs 1,84,78,566 value were seized. A total of 75 persons were booked under Gangster Act while properties of Rs 28.95 lakh of 19 were attached.”
Under this drive, districts in Varanasi range ensured seizure of ganja, heroin and other narcotics substances of over Rs 1 crore in 89 cases. Jaunpur police registered a maximum 58 cases by arresting an equal number of peddlers. Ghazipur cops seized narcotics substances of Rs 8.82 lakh in eight cases only. Two drug peddlers were also booked under Gangster Act in Jaunpur and properties of Rs 20 lakhs were attached.
In Azamgarh range, 94 cases of drug peddling were registeredfollowing seizure of narcotics substances of Rs 26.41 lakh. Maximum seizures of Rs 10.33 lakh were made in Mau while Azamgarh cops seized drugs of Rs 8.40 lakhs and booked 25 under Gangster Act. Ballia cops registered 48 cases and made seizures of Rs 7.66 lakhs only while seven were booked under Gangster Act.
Cops in Mirzapur range identified involvement of 65 persons in 38 registered cases of drug peddling and action was initiated against 56 of them following seizure of narcotics substances of Rs 57.00 lakh. A total of 34 peddlers were booked under Gangster Act and seizure of properties of Rs 89.50 lakh was initiated against 10.
ADG said, “A total of 849 cases of liquor smuggling were registered between August 24 and 31 and 879 smugglers and hooch makers were caught. Liquor and hooch of over Rs 1 crore was revovered. As many as 45 smugglers and hooch makers were booked under Gangster Act while properties of 11 of Rs 79.66 lakh were also seized.”