The Crime Branch of the Bhopal Police on Friday claimed to have confiscated the largest-ever haul of 36.18 kg contraband charas (cannabis concentrate) in Madhya Pradesh worth nearly Rs 12.50 crore in the international market.
According to information provided by Crime Branch officials, a tip-off was received about two inter-state smugglers carrying the drug. A team of the crime branch rushed to the forest area near the coach factory at the Ayodhya by-pass road on the outskirts of Bhopal.
On seeing the police team, the two men tried to flee but were rounded up and nabbed. Police officials said the men identified themselves as Vijay Shankar Yadav (33) and Harkesh Chaudhary (35), both residents of Bihar.
As per the officials, the two accused were carrying a backpack each and when police searched the bags, they found 18.11 kilos of charas in Yadav’s bag and 18.07 kilos of charas inside Chaudhary’s backpack.
Police officials said during interrogation, the accused confessed to have smuggled the charas into Bhopal via Bihar. They informed the police that the supply of the contraband originated from Nepal.
The police said the international market value of the seized drug is nearly Rs 12.50 crore.
Both the accused have been booked under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act and further investigations are on.