NCB wins 441 kg ganja case: 9 traffickers jailed up to 20 years in Firozabad bust
Synopsis
Four years after a 441 kg ganja haul was found hidden in a truck's cabin on the Odisha-to-Aligarh route, a Firozabad court has handed nine traffickers sentences of up to 20 years — and frozen ₹32.12 lakh in their assets. The NCB's dual-track prosecution, combining criminal charges with financial investigation, is the real story here.
Key Takeaways
A Special Court (NDPS) in Firozabad sentenced nine drug traffickers on 26 September 2025 in the 441 kg ganja seizure case of November 2021 .
Yashpal Singh received the stiffest sentence of 20 years rigorous imprisonment and a ₹2 lakh fine.
Two others — Vivek and Shishupal — were sentenced to 15 years each; the remaining six received 10 years each.
The contraband originated in Gajapati, Odisha and was destined for Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh , concealed in a specially built cavity in a truck's cabin.
Assets worth ₹32.12 lakh belonging to the convicts were traced and frozen by authorities in 2024 .
Proceedings under the PITNDPS Act were initiated, with orders passed in 2022 and 2023 ; the seized truck's auction is under way.
A Special Court (NDPS) in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh, on 26 September 2025 sentenced nine drug traffickers to rigorous imprisonment ranging from 10 to 20 years for their roles in the 441 kg ganja seizure of November 2021. The Additional District and Sessions Judge endorsed the findings of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Lucknow, delivering one of the stiffer collective sentences under the NDPS Act in the region in recent years.
How the Case Began
On 4 November 2021, personnel at Shikohabad Police Station, Firozabad, intercepted a truck bearing registration number HR 38 X 9682 and recovered 441 kg of ganja concealed within a specially constructed cavity in the driver's cabin. The driver, Pankaj Sharma of Tilauthi, Hathras, and the co-driver, Rinku Sharma of Pawan Vihar, Agra, were arrested on the spot while in conscious possession of the contraband.
Investigators established that the consignment had originated in Gajapati, Odisha and was destined for Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. The NCB subsequently took over the case for a deeper probe, leading to the arrest of seven additional accused.
The Nine Convicts and Their Sentences
Yashpal Singh of Lodha, Aligarh — the longest sentence — received 20 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹2 lakh. Vivek of Tilauthi, Hathras, and Shishupal of ADA Colony, Aligarh, each received 15 years and a ₹2 lakh fine. The remaining five — Neeraj Saini of Ballabhgarh, Haryana; Vipin Pandit alias Vipin Sharma of Vidhehpur, Mathura; Niraj Gupta of Ayodhyapuri, Aligarh; Neeraj Kumar alias Bittu of Surendra Nagar, Aligarh; Rinku Sharma; and Pankaj Sharma — were each sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh. Neeraj Saini was among those who had taken the truck on lease, according to the NCB.
Financial Investigation and Asset Freezing
Beyond the custodial sentences, the NCB pursued a parallel financial investigation. Assets and properties worth ₹32.12 lakh belonging to the convicts were traced and frozen by the competent authority in 2024. Proceedings under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act were also initiated, with orders passed against the accused in 2022 and 2023. The auction process for the seized truck is currently under way, according to NCB officials.
Significance of the Verdict
The case illustrates the NCB's increasing use of financial investigations alongside criminal prosecution — a dual-track approach that targets both the individuals and the economic infrastructure supporting drug networks. The Odisha-to-UP route highlighted in this case is consistent with trafficking corridors that enforcement agencies have flagged as active in central India. This verdict, coming nearly four years after the original seizure, underscores the prolonged but ultimately decisive nature of NDPS prosecutions when backed by thorough investigation.
Point of View
Nine convicts, sentences up to 20 years — tell a tidy enforcement story, but the more consequential detail is the ₹32.12 lakh asset freeze and the PITNDPS proceedings. Drug prosecutions in India have historically struggled to dismantle trafficking networks because custodial punishment alone leaves financial infrastructure intact. The NCB's dual-track approach here is notable, though ₹32.12 lakh remains a modest haul relative to the likely profit margin on 441 kg of ganja across state lines. The Odisha-to-UP corridor also deserves scrutiny: if the consignment originated in Gajapati and was headed for Aligarh, the network almost certainly extends beyond the nine people now in jail.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Firozabad 441 kg ganja case?
On 4 November 2021, Shikohabad Police intercepted a truck on the Firozabad highway and seized 441 kg of ganja hidden in a specially constructed cavity in the driver's cabin. The contraband had originated in Gajapati, Odisha and was destined for Aligarh, UP. The NCB took over the investigation and eventually arrested nine accused.
What sentences did the nine convicts receive?
The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Firozabad, sentenced Yashpal Singh to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and a ₹2 lakh fine; Vivek and Shishupal to 15 years each with ₹2 lakh fines; and the remaining six — Neeraj Saini, Vipin Pandit alias Vipin Sharma, Niraj Gupta, Neeraj Kumar alias Bittu, Rinku Sharma, and Pankaj Sharma — to 10 years each with ₹1 lakh fines.
What financial action did the NCB take against the drug traffickers?
The NCB's financial investigation led to the tracing and freezing of assets worth ₹32.12 lakh belonging to the convicts in 2024. Proceedings under the PITNDPS Act were also initiated, with orders passed in 2022 and 2023, and the auction of the seized truck is currently under way.
Where did the ganja originate and where was it going?
According to the NCB, the seized ganja originated from Gajapati, Odisha and was being transported to Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. It was concealed in a specially created cavity inside the truck's driver cabin when intercepted at Shikohabad, Firozabad.
Why is this verdict significant?
The case resulted in nine convictions with sentences of up to 20 years — among the stiffer collective NDPS verdicts in the region. It also demonstrates the NCB's dual-track enforcement model, combining criminal prosecution with financial investigation and asset seizure under the PITNDPS Act.
