Jaipur, June 19 (IANS) A Special NDPS Court in Rajasthan has sentenced six persons to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment each for their involvement in the interstate trafficking of over 600 kg of poppy straw in the state in 2021, dealing a major blow to an organised narcotics network operating across state borders, an official statement said on Friday.

The Special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court at Weir in Bharatpur district also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on each of the convicts, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said in the statement.

The convicted persons have been identified as Sangram Ram Bawari, Dheema Ram Bishnoi, Sunil, Oma Ram, Bhutta Ram Bawari and Kalu Ram Jat.

The NCB’s Jaipur Zonal Unit arrested them following a major drug seizure carried out on October 3, 2021. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, NCB officials intercepted a truck and an escort vehicle near the Amoli Toll Plaza in Bharatpur district.

During the search, officials recovered 619.8 kg of doda chura (poppy straw) packed in 28 bags from the truck. All six accused were subsequently arrested and booked under various provisions of the NDPS Act, 1985.

The NCB said that the accused had conspired to transport the contraband from Jharkhand to Rajasthan. Bhutta Ram was found to be the intended recipient of the consignment, while the remaining accused played roles in transportation, escorting the vehicle and arranging payments.

The conviction comes amid continued efforts by central agencies to crack down on interstate drug trafficking routes passing through Rajasthan.

In August last year, the NCB’s Jodhpur Zonal Unit had seized 2,413.68 kg of poppy straw near Sanchore in Jalore district while it was allegedly being transported from Jharkhand to Barmer. One person was arrested in that case.

NCB officials have repeatedly identified Rajasthan as a key transit corridor for narcotics originating in eastern and central India.

Welcoming the verdict, NCB officials said the conviction reflects the agency’s sustained commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.

The bureau also appealed to the public to share information on narcotics trafficking through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline (1933), assuring strict confidentiality of informants.

–IANS

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