Mumbai, September 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dealt a significant blow to an inter-state drug trafficking network, as the NDPS Special Court in Biloli, Maharashtra, sentenced two traffickers to ten years in prison. The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on each of them for their involvement in the seizure of 1,127 kilograms of marijuana.
The accused, Gokul Narayan Rajput, a 32-year-old truck owner and driver from Aurangabad district, and 35-year-old co-driver Sunil Yadav Mahajan from Jalgaon district, were arrested by the NCB’s Mumbai zonal unit on November 15, 2021. They were caught transporting a large consignment of illegal goods.
Following a tip-off, an NCB team intercepted their Ashok Leyland truck in Manjaram village, Nanded district. During the search, officials discovered 49 polyethylene bags hidden beneath industrial iron rods. These bags contained 112 packets of marijuana, totaling 1,127 kilograms.
Investigations revealed that the contraband was loaded in Ankampalli, Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, and was destined for Jalgaon, Maharashtra. Further inquiries indicated that Rajput had previous criminal charges related to attempted murder and kidnapping. The truck used for transporting the drugs had already been blacklisted by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), yet it was still employed for illegal activities.
During the trial, the prosecution successfully demonstrated that both defendants were knowingly in possession of a commercial quantity of marijuana, failing to provide a satisfactory explanation for their actions. The additional sessions judge in Biloli found both men guilty under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985, sentencing them to ten years of rigorous imprisonment and ordering the confiscation of the seized truck.
The NCB emphasized that this conviction underscores its commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks, contributing to the goal of a drug-free India.
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