Noida: Ambulance used to smuggle 64 kg cannabis across states, one held
Synopsis
A Noida drug bust has exposed a chilling tactic: a smuggler from Agra modified a Maruti Eeco ambulance with hidden compartments to ferry 64 kg of cannabis from Odisha to Delhi-NCR, banking on the assumption that emergency vehicles are never stopped at checkpoints. The scheme unravelled when the Noida Phase-1 Police and Narcotics Cell acted on confidential intelligence.
Key Takeaways
Omveer Singh , 48 , of Agra , was arrested near Jhundpura border, Noida on 21 July .
64 kilograms of cannabis worth an estimated ₹13 lakh was recovered from a modified Maruti Eeco ambulance .
The vehicle had two concealed compartments — under the stretcher and under the attendant's seat — built specifically to hide contraband.
Singh admitted to sourcing cannabis from Odisha and supplying it to the Delhi-NCR region after repacking it locally.
The Gautam Buddha Nagar Police are investigating Singh's links to organised gangs and other members of the supply network.
A cannabis smuggler was arrested in Noida on Tuesday, 21 July after a joint operation by the Noida Phase-1 Police and the Narcotics Cell uncovered a brazen scheme to ferry contraband across state lines using a modified ambulance. About 64 kilograms of cannabis, valued at an estimated ₹13 lakh, was seized from the vehicle.
How the Smuggling Network Operated
The accused, Omveer Singh, 48, a resident of Nagar village, Agra, had fitted a Maruti Eeco ambulance — found without a number plate — with two concealed compartments. According to police, a secret chamber was built beneath the stretcher area where a patient would normally be laid, and a second compartment was constructed under the attendant's seat to store large quantities of cannabis.
Singh was apprehended near the Jhundpura border following actionable intelligence gathered by the joint team. The ambulance was subsequently impounded by police.
Why an Ambulance Was Chosen
During interrogation, Singh reportedly told investigators that he deliberately chose an ambulance because such vehicles are typically waved through at toll plazas and police checkpoints without inspection. He sought to exploit this systemic trust to move cannabis undetected from one state to another — a calculated misuse of emergency infrastructure.
Supply Chain: Odisha to Delhi-NCR
Singh admitted to sourcing a specific variety of cannabis from Odisha and transporting it to the Delhi-NCR region. Upon arriving in Delhi, the consignment was reportedly repacked into smaller quantities and distributed locally. According to police, Singh used the proceeds from the illicit trade to fund what he described as a lavish lifestyle.
Investigation and What Comes Next
The Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissionerate has registered a case and is now actively searching for other individuals linked to the smuggling network. Investigators are also examining whether Singh has ties to any organised gang or established cannabis suppliers operating across the Odisha-Delhi corridor.
This case highlights a growing concern among law enforcement about the misuse of emergency vehicles for drug trafficking — a tactic that exploits the public trust placed in ambulances to bypass routine security checks. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are expected.
Point of View
It could force a rethink of how toll plazas and police nakkas verify emergency vehicles without compromising genuine medical emergencies. The Odisha-to-Delhi-NCR cannabis corridor also points to a supply chain that extends well beyond one arrested individual; the real question is how many runs Singh completed before this one was intercepted.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Noida cannabis bust on 21 July?
Police seized 64 kilograms of cannabis worth approximately ₹13 lakh from a modified Maruti Eeco ambulance. The vehicle had concealed compartments built beneath the stretcher and under the attendant's seat.
Who was arrested in the Noida drug case?
The arrested person is Omveer Singh , 48 , a resident of Nagar village in Agra . He was nabbed near the Jhundpura border by a joint team of the Noida Phase-1 Police and the Narcotics Cell.
Why did the smuggler use an ambulance?
According to police, Singh told investigators that ambulances are rarely stopped at toll plazas and police checkpoints. He modified the vehicle with hidden compartments to exploit this systemic trust and move cannabis undetected across state lines.
Where was the cannabis sourced from and where was it being supplied?
Singh admitted to sourcing a specific variety of cannabis from Odisha and transporting it to the Delhi-NCR region, where it was repacked into smaller quantities and distributed locally.
What is the current status of the investigation?
The Gautam Buddha Nagar Police Commissionerate has impounded the ambulance and registered a case. Investigators are searching for other members of the smuggling network and examining whether Singh has links to any organised gang or cannabis suppliers.
