Bareilly/Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has achieved a major breakthrough by arresting three active members of an interstate narcotics smuggling network from Bareilly and recovering 1.428 kilograms of illegal opium valued at approximately ₹8.5 lakh in the international market.
The accused have been identified as Lala Ram Verma, son of Late Nem Chandra; Taufiq Khan, son of Puttan Khan; and Rakesh, son of Tulsi Ram. All three are residents of villages under the Bhmora police station area of Bareilly district.
Along with the illegal opium, STF officials also recovered three mobile phones from the accused.
The arrests were made near Andhi Pulia under the Subhash Nagar police station area of Bareilly on May 6, 2026.
According to STF officials, intelligence inputs had been received for several days regarding an active gang involved in trafficking narcotic substances across multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh and other states. Following the instructions of senior officers, STF teams were directed to intensify intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of STF Headquarters Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar Singh. A team led by Sub-Inspector Harish Singh Chauhan, along with STF personnel Krishna Kant Shukla, Sunil Yadav, and Ram Singh Yadav, conducted the raid with assistance from the local police.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that they had been jointly involved in the illegal purchase and sale of opium for a considerable period. They reportedly sourced opium from different locations and supplied it to various states including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Haryana.
The accused further revealed that they used to transport the contraband collectively and distribute the profits among themselves. According to investigators, deliveries were often made secretly in Ludhiana’s Sindal Chowk area, where buyers would approach them directly. The transactions were reportedly conducted discreetly to avoid identification and maintain secrecy.
A case has been registered against the accused at Subhash Nagar Police Station, Bareilly, under relevant sections of the NDPS Act. Further legal action is being carried out by the local police authorities.
