Lucknow/Azamgarh: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a member of an inter-state narcotics smuggling gang and seized approximately 354 kilograms of ganja, valued at around ₹88 lakh in the international market, during a major operation in Azamgarh district.
According to officials, the arrest was made on March 12, 2026 at about 9:40 am near Amda Toll Plaza under the jurisdiction of Gambhirpur Police Station in Azamgarh. The accused has been identified as Rajiv Kumar Yadav, son of Tilak Singh, a resident of Surenda village under Ajitmal police station in Auraiya district.
During the operation, STF personnel recovered 354 kg of illegal ganja, one container truck (UP-79-AT-9418) and a mobile phone from the accused.
The STF had been receiving intelligence inputs for some time regarding the activities of drug trafficking networks operating across several districts of Uttar Pradesh. Acting on these inputs, a team under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Avneeshwar Chandra Srivastava intensified surveillance and intelligence gathering.
A team led by Sub-Inspector Faizuddin Siddiqui along with other STF personnel was conducting patrol operations in Azamgarh when they received information that a truck loaded with ganja from Chhattisgarh was heading towards the district. Acting swiftly, the STF team, along with the Circle Officer (Sadar) of Azamgarh, intercepted the truck near the toll plaza and searched the vehicle, where a large quantity of ganja was found concealed inside.
During interrogation, Rajiv Kumar Yadav revealed that the truck had been purchased in his name by Avneesh Kumar, a resident of Karwakheda village under Ekdil police station in Etawah district. Avneesh, who reportedly works in a government department in Chhattisgarh, had sent Rajiv with the truck to Chhattisgarh. There, Rajiv handed the vehicle over to a man identified as Ajay Kumar alias Ajju, who later loaded the truck with ganja along with empty cartons and instructed him to deliver it in Azamgarh.
Following the arrest, a case (No. 76/2026) has been registered at Gambhirpur police station under Sections 8/20/29/60 of the NDPS Act, and further legal proceedings are being carried out by the local police.
