Bengal police STF seize 243 kg ganja worth over 50 lakhs on Barrackpore-Kalyani Expressway, arrests two people

The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police struck a major blow to an interstate drug trafficking network, seizing 243 kilograms of ganja. Acting on a tip-off that a large consignment of narcotics was being transported from Odisha to West Bengal, the STF team set up a strategic blockade on the Barrackpore-Kalyani Expressway. Upon intercepting a suspicious truck, the officers conducted a thorough search and discovered the contraband cleverly concealed beneath heavy bags of cement.

The market value of the seized ganja is estimated to be over ₹50 lakh. Two individuals were arrested on the spot in connection with the smuggling attempt. The accused have been identified as Gulam Murselim, alias Bijan Sarkar (41), from Murshidabad, and Swapan Das (53), from Rahara in North 24 Parganas. Preliminary interrogation suggests that the duo was part of a larger syndicate that regularly supplies narcotics to various parts of the state through secretive routes.

Following the arrest, a case was registered at the STF headquarters under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. On January 10, 2026, the accused were produced before the ACJM Court in Bidhannagar. Considering the scale of the seizure, the court granted the police 10 days of custody to further investigate the roots of this inter-state drug pipeline and identify other active members of the racket.

The STF is now focusing on tracing the origin of the consignment in Odisha and its intended destination in Bengal. Officials believe that the cement truck was used as a cover to bypass regular highway checkpoints. This operation is being hailed as a significant achievement in the ongoing statewide crackdown on illegal drug trade, with more arrests expected as the investigation progresses.