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Varanasi. In a significant crackdown on organised drug trafficking, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) Varanasi unit, in a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), has recovered 123 kilograms of ganja from the TCI Express courier warehouse located in the Paranandpur area of Rohaniya. One accused has been arrested on the spot, while a wider interstate network is now under intense investigation. Officials estimate the seized contraband to be worth nearly ₹30 lakh in the illegal international market.
Courier Warehouse Raided
According to police officials, the arrested accused has been identified as Premchandra Maurya, a resident of Azamgarh. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, STF and NCB teams conducted a coordinated raid that exposed a long-running trafficking module operating under the cover of courier logistics services.
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Investigators revealed that the syndicate had developed a highly deceptive modus operandi. The seized parcels were labelled as “silk sarees” to avoid suspicion during transit checks. However, inside these packages, large quantities of cannabis were concealed and transported from Assam to Uttar Pradesh and several districts of the Purvanchal region.
Silk Saree Parcels Used
During interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed key details about the interstate supply chain. As per the findings, Babru Varman from Udalguri in Assam was responsible for packing the narcotics, which were then sent to a handler named Bablu based in Guwahati. From there, the consignments were routed through courier logistics channels to multiple states.
Sources further indicate that certain employees within the courier ecosystem are also under the scanner for alleged collusion. It is suspected that cooperation from a courier manager in Guwahati enabled unchecked movement of parcels without proper inspection, allowing the network to operate undetected for a prolonged period.
Once the consignments reached Varanasi, they were collected from warehouses using fake identities and forged details. The network reportedly distributed the narcotics across several districts including Varanasi, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, and Deoria. Payments were being made digitally, with transactions reportedly structured at around ₹3,800 per kilogram.
Digital Evidence Recovered
During the raid, law enforcement agencies also seized critical digital evidence including mobile phones and WhatsApp chat records. These communications have provided leads about other associates and suppliers linked to the syndicate. Multiple police teams have now been deployed to trace and apprehend the remaining suspects.
Officials stated that the recovered consignment represents only a fraction of a much larger operation. Preliminary assessment suggests the existence of a well-organised interstate drug cartel exploiting courier services and transport networks for large-scale narcotics distribution.
Following the exposure of this racket, serious concerns have been raised regarding the misuse of courier infrastructure for illegal activities. Local observations indicate that such logistics hubs are increasingly being exploited as cover for illicit trafficking, while oversight mechanisms appear insufficient.
Wider Network Under Probe
Investigating agencies have indicated that further arrests are likely in the coming days as financial trails, digital communications, and transaction records are being analysed to map the full extent of the network. Efforts are currently underway to identify the masterminds behind the operation and dismantle the entire supply chain structure.
