Motihari/Patna: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized approximately Rs 3.5 crore in cash and a large quantity of poppy husk during a major anti-narcotics operation in Bihar’s Motihari, leading to the arrest of an alleged drug trafficker who investigators claim operated under the guise of a grocery business.
The accused, identified as Pappu Jaiswal, was taken into custody following coordinated raids at multiple locations in Hindri Bazaar under the Motihari Town police station area.
According to NCB officials, the operation was launched after intelligence inputs suggested that a narcotics network was being run from a grocery establishment in the locality.
Week-Long Surveillance Led To Raids
Officials said the bureau conducted surveillance for nearly a week before carrying out the operation.
Investigators monitored the movements of the accused and his associates, allegedly using undercover personnel to gather evidence. During the surveillance period, one NCB officer operating in plain clothes reportedly attracted the suspicion of local residents and was briefly detained before being identified and assisted by fellow officers.
Following the intelligence-gathering exercise, NCB teams simultaneously raided a grocery shop near the Hindri Bazaar water tank, a warehouse and the accused’s residence.
Cash Hidden Inside Drums
During the search of the grocery shop, officials recovered large quantities of cash concealed inside four drums.
According to investigators, bundles of currency notes had been hidden inside the containers and covered with pouches of cooking oil in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.
The search later extended to a warehouse, where officers recovered around ten sacks containing poppy husk, a narcotic substance derived from the opium poppy.
Additional cash was allegedly recovered during a search of the accused’s residence.
NCB officials estimate the total cash seizure at around Rs 3.5 crore.
Accused ‘Active For 25 Years’
An NCB official involved in the operation alleged that the accused had been engaged in the illegal narcotics trade for nearly 25 years.
“We received information that drug trafficking was being conducted under the cover of a grocery business. After a week of surveillance, we carried out coordinated raids and recovered cash-filled drums and sacks containing poppy husk. The accused is being interrogated and further arrests are likely,” the official said.
Investigators are now examining the possible involvement of other members of the alleged network.
Financial Links Under Scrutiny
According to officials, the investigation has expanded beyond the seizure itself and now includes scrutiny of the accused’s financial transactions, assets and business interests.
Sources familiar with the probe claimed that Jaiswal also operated a large roadside eatery in Muzaffarpur district and that members of his family are being examined as part of the investigation.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and no charges have yet been publicly announced against family members.
Investigators suspect that the network may extend beyond Bihar and are analysing bank records and property holdings to determine the scale of the operation.
Local Shock After Seizures
The raids have generated considerable attention in the area, where residents described the accused as a well-known trader.
Locals said the scale of the cash recovery and narcotics seizure came as a surprise to many in the neighbourhood.
The NCB said further arrests could follow as the investigation progresses and additional leads are pursued.
