NCB busts courier drug network in Varanasi, seizes 124 kg ganja; one arrested
Synopsis
Traffickers smuggled 124 kg of ganja through a legitimate courier network — disguising drug packets as silk saree parcels with fake recipient details. The NCB-STF bust in Varanasi is the second major Assam-to-UP ganja seizure in weeks, pointing to an active interstate supply corridor that enforcement agencies are now racing to dismantle.
Key Takeaways
The NCB Gorakhpur Zonal Unit and UP STF seized 124 kg of ganja from a courier company's godown in Varanasi on 15 June 2025 .
The contraband was disguised with silk saree labels and fictitious recipient details to evade detection.
The consignment originated in Assam and was bound for Ranipur, Mau district , Uttar Pradesh.
One suspect has been arrested; a case is registered under the NDPS Act, 1985 .
Earlier this month, the same agencies seized over 406 kg of ganja in Deoria and arrested four traffickers.
Citizens can report drug trafficking tips on the MANAS Helpline: 1933 with guaranteed confidentiality.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Gorakhpur Zonal Unit, working in tandem with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), seized 124 kg of ganja from the godown of a courier company in Varanasi on 15 June 2025 and arrested one suspected drug trafficker. Officials confirmed the operation on Monday, describing it as a significant strike against an organised narcotics courier network operating across state lines.
How the Racket Operated
According to the NCB, the contraband was recovered from a courier company's godown in the Jagatpur area, falling under Rohania police station limits in Varanasi district. Investigators found that the ganja packets had been carefully disguised with silk saree labels and accompanied by receipts bearing fictitious names and addresses — a deliberate attempt to evade detection by enforcement agencies.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the consignment had originated in Assam and was destined for Ranipur in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh. Officials said the traffickers exploited the courier network specifically to conceal the movement of narcotics and avoid scrutiny.
Legal Action and Investigation
A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The arrested accused is currently being questioned, and investigators are working to identify other members of the trafficking network and establish both the source and destination links of the seized consignment.
Part of a Wider Anti-Narcotics Drive in UP
The Varanasi seizure follows closely on the heels of another major joint operation by the NCB Gorakhpur and UP STF in Deoria district earlier this month, where more than 406 kg of ganja was seized and four alleged traffickers were arrested. That consignment had reportedly also been transported from Assam and was intended for distribution in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
In Sultanpur in April 2025, enforcement agencies recovered over 1.5 tonnes of ganja from a truck and took two accused into custody. Separately, the Uttar Pradesh Police Anti-Narcotics Task Force seized a large quantity of ganja in Rae Bareli and arrested three traffickers. Authorities have also reported multiple seizures of synthetic drugs and psychotropic substances in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, and Noida, leading to the dismantling of several interstate trafficking networks.
What Authorities Are Saying
Officials said sustained coordination between central and state agencies has meaningfully strengthened anti-smuggling efforts across Uttar Pradesh. The operation is being carried out under the Centre's campaign for a 'Drug-Free India.' The NCB has urged citizens to report narcotics-related information through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline (1933), assuring full confidentiality for informers.
Point of View
Suggesting a structured supply chain rather than isolated incidents. What the repeated busts also reveal is a gap: the courier and logistics sector remains a relatively unmonitored conduit, and without systematic consignment audits at the industry level, enforcement agencies will keep playing catch-up. The NCB's public appeal via the MANAS helpline is a low-cost intelligence tool, but dismantling the network requires tracing the Assam origin point — something investigations have yet to publicly confirm.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the NCB operation in Varanasi on 15 June 2025?
The NCB Gorakhpur Zonal Unit and UP STF seized 124 kg of ganja from the godown of a courier company in Jagatpur, Varanasi. One suspected drug trafficker was arrested in connection with the operation.
How did traffickers attempt to conceal the ganja consignment?
The ganja packets were disguised with silk saree labels and accompanied by receipts bearing fictitious names and addresses. This was done to avoid detection by enforcement agencies monitoring courier shipments.
Where did the seized ganja originate and where was it headed?
Preliminary investigation revealed the consignment originated in Assam and was being transported to Ranipur in Mau district of Uttar Pradesh for distribution.
What legal action has been taken after the Varanasi drug bust?
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The arrested accused is being questioned, and investigators are working to identify other members of the trafficking network.
Is this part of a larger pattern of drug seizures in Uttar Pradesh?
Yes. Earlier this month, the NCB and UP STF seized over 406 kg of ganja in Deoria and arrested four traffickers. In April 2025, over 1.5 tonnes of ganja were recovered in Sultanpur. Multiple seizures of synthetic drugs have also been reported in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, and Noida.
