Jaipur: The Gulabpura police in Bhilwara busted a racket that was exploiting minors as drug peddlers, luring them with promises of money and expensive mobile phones.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a gang recruited minors to transport drugs, as they were less likely to attract police attention. The accused trained minors to hoodwink police.
SHO (Gulabpura) Sugan Singh said that police arrested Karna Ram (35), a native of Karwar in Jodhpur district.
“In July 2021, we intercepted a pick-up truck at National Highway (NH) 79 and found 205 kg illegal opium. The driver of the vehicle was detained and he turned out to be a minor. It was crucial for us to investigate who had involved a 17-year-old boy in driving a vehicle loaded with narcotic substances,” Singh said.
Singh added that police discovered that a notorious drug smuggler named Karna Ram, operating in western Rajasthan, was the mastermind behind the racket.
“The accused enticed minors by offering them cash, expensive mobile phones, and other incentives,” he said, adding that Gulabpura police on Friday arrested him.
Singh added that their investigation has uncovered a new method of smuggling, where smugglers recruit minors from villages to work as couriers. “The gang leaders avoid driving the vehicles loaded with drugs themselves to avoid police suspicion. Instead, the mafia drives in luxury cars as escorts, while the couriers drive older, stolen vehicles to transport narcotics,” Singh said.
He also mentioned that the smugglers assured minors that police would not be able to catch them during their illicit operations.
“Two other accused are wanted in the same case and our police teams are carrying out a search operation,” Singh.
Police also looked into Karna Ram’s criminal history and found that he had been involved in at least three cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act filed against him.
The police stated that they were intensifying crackdown on illegal drug activities in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections in the district and have established special check points and search points to track down smugglers and peddlers.
We also published the following articles recently
Preliminary investigation revealed that a gang recruited minors to transport drugs, as they were less likely to attract police attention. The accused trained minors to hoodwink police.
SHO (Gulabpura) Sugan Singh said that police arrested Karna Ram (35), a native of Karwar in Jodhpur district.
“In July 2021, we intercepted a pick-up truck at National Highway (NH) 79 and found 205 kg illegal opium. The driver of the vehicle was detained and he turned out to be a minor. It was crucial for us to investigate who had involved a 17-year-old boy in driving a vehicle loaded with narcotic substances,” Singh said.
Singh added that police discovered that a notorious drug smuggler named Karna Ram, operating in western Rajasthan, was the mastermind behind the racket.
“The accused enticed minors by offering them cash, expensive mobile phones, and other incentives,” he said, adding that Gulabpura police on Friday arrested him.
Singh added that their investigation has uncovered a new method of smuggling, where smugglers recruit minors from villages to work as couriers. “The gang leaders avoid driving the vehicles loaded with drugs themselves to avoid police suspicion. Instead, the mafia drives in luxury cars as escorts, while the couriers drive older, stolen vehicles to transport narcotics,” Singh said.
He also mentioned that the smugglers assured minors that police would not be able to catch them during their illicit operations.
“Two other accused are wanted in the same case and our police teams are carrying out a search operation,” Singh.
Police also looked into Karna Ram’s criminal history and found that he had been involved in at least three cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act filed against him.
The police stated that they were intensifying crackdown on illegal drug activities in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections in the district and have established special check points and search points to track down smugglers and peddlers.
We also published the following articles recently
5-year RI for drug smuggler
A man in Mohali has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rs 5,000 for smuggling opium, poppy husk, and cannabis. The arrest was made after a significant amount of these substances were found in his possession at a check post. In other news, a major drug cartel operating between Manipur and Myanmar has been busted, resulting in the seizure of over 40kg of opium worth Rs 40 crore. Additionally, several individuals have been arrested in different parts of India for drug-related offenses.
A man in Mohali has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rs 5,000 for smuggling opium, poppy husk, and cannabis. The arrest was made after a significant amount of these substances were found in his possession at a check post. In other news, a major drug cartel operating between Manipur and Myanmar has been busted, resulting in the seizure of over 40kg of opium worth Rs 40 crore. Additionally, several individuals have been arrested in different parts of India for drug-related offenses.
ED custody of drug smuggler extended
The ED custody of Rajani Kanta Pattanayak, an accused in a drug smuggling case, has been extended till October 4 by a special PMLA court in Khurda. The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Pattanayak based on an FIR lodged in Ganjam district. The police had seized drugs, cash, and gold ornaments from his house and booked him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The ED custody of Rajani Kanta Pattanayak, an accused in a drug smuggling case, has been extended till October 4 by a special PMLA court in Khurda. The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Pattanayak based on an FIR lodged in Ganjam district. The police had seized drugs, cash, and gold ornaments from his house and booked him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
