Meerut, 14 June (HS): The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF)

detained two accused members of an international drug trafficking conspiracy

and seized more over 4.420 kilograms of opium, police announced on Saturday. According to Additional Superintendent of

Police (STF) Brijesh Kumar Singh, Hansraj and Firasat Ali, both from Amroha

district, were nabbed near Panchi Pul on the Hapur-Meerut Road. The squad seized 4.420 kg of opium, three

mobile phones, Rs 800 in cash, and a vehicle from the couple, Singh added. According

to Singh, an initial inquiry found that the accused had been importing opium

from Jharkhand to western Uttar Pradesh since 2021.

Firasat Ali had already been

detained by the STF in 2022 in a similar case. After being freed from jail

nearly a year later, he reportedly continued cocaine trafficking and recruited

Hansraj to help him, according to authorities. The two were allegedly providing

the contraband to several regions in western Uttar Pradesh, Singh stated.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi