5 kg charas in knee caps under sarees, 2 women held at UP station: DRI officials

Officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have apprehended three individuals, including two women, and confiscated approximately 5.088 kg of charas - a potent form of cannabis - originating from Nepal, at the Uttar Pradesh railway station in Gorakhpur, according to reports on Friday. The illicit substance was allegedly concealed in knee caps that were wrapped around the women's thighs and concealed under their sarees.

The trio was traveling on the Amarnath Express, which was en route from Bihar's Sugauli to Ludhiana in Punjab, as confirmed by the DRI officials. The distinctive method of concealment allowed the packets to remain hidden against the body during the journey, according to the officials. Acting on intelligence inputs, a DRI team intercepted the three passengers late on Thursday.

During a thorough search, officers discovered 11 packets containing a blackish substance concealed within knee caps that were wrapped around the women's thighs and hidden beneath their sarees. Upon testing, the substance was confirmed to be charas, originating from Nepal, a drug that holds significant demand in illicit markets. The agency classified the contraband as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and all three passengers were arrested for their alleged roles in trafficking.

The DRI is currently investigating the origin of the charas, its intended destination, and the broader network involved in the transportation of the consignment. The seizure marks a part of the agency's ongoing efforts to combat cross-border narcotics trafficking in the region, according to officials.