Motihari: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Dhaka police in Motihari arrested four opium smugglers and seized 1,073 grams of opium, a car, mobile phones, and travel documents near Baba Mastram College. The arrests have exposed an interstate drug network operating across Bihar and northeastern states.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
- Nandlal Kumar of Chhapra
- Umesh Mahato of Badharwa Lakhnasen
- Vivek Kumar of Belahi
- Mahendra Sah of Banjaria
Opium Hidden in Car and Bags
According to Dhaka police officials, the recovery was made during a routine vehicle check. During the search:
- 205 grams of opium was recovered from the dashboard of the car
- 424 grams was found in possession of Umesh Mahato
- 444 grams was seized from Vivek Kumar
The police also recovered mobile phones, Aadhar cards, two bank passbooks, an electronic weighing scale, and poly bags used for packaging.
Manipur Link: Opium Purchased for ₹10 Lakh
During interrogation, Vivek Kumar, who works as a painter in Manipur, confessed that he bought the opium in three packets for ₹10 lakh and brought it to Motihari by train. He admitted that he received ₹50,000 for transporting the contraband.
Car Purchased to Facilitate Drug Trade
Further investigations revealed that Umesh Mahato purchased the car from Nandlal Kumar, luring him with the promise of easy money. The consignment was to be delivered to Mahendra Sah in Daroga Tola, Banjaria.
A search at Mahendra’s residence led to the recovery of additional evidence, confirming that he used to supply opium to Harinath Rai of Chiraiya and Mohammad Sabir of Muzaffarpur.
Interstate Gang and Ongoing Raids
According to Dhaka police, the smugglers are part of a larger interstate opium smuggling syndicate. Multiple criminal cases are already registered against Umesh Mahato, and police suspect a wider network involving suppliers and dealers across Bihar and neighboring states.
Raids are currently underway to track down key associates, including Harinath Rai and Mohammad Sabir. Authorities believe that more arrests are imminent.
Senior police officials have confirmed that an intensive investigation is ongoing and efforts are being made to dismantle the entire supply chain.
