CBN Busts Inter-State Heroin Syndicate in ‘Operation Black Hawk’, Seizes 18.64 Kg
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) has busted an inter-state heroin trafficking network in a coordinated operation near Lucknow, seizing 18.64 kg of crude heroin and arresting three suspected members of the syndicate. The operation, code-named ‘Operation Black Hawk’, was carried out by teams from the CBN’s Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh units.
According to the CBN, the seized contraband originated in a northeastern state and was being transported for distribution and consumption in Uttar Pradesh. The arrests followed intelligence inputs about the movement of heroin from the northeastern region towards Lucknow.
Acting on precise information developed by the CBN MP Unit, joint teams from the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh units established surveillance and a strategic cordon along the Sultanpur-Lucknow Highway during the intervening night of August 20 and 21.
The teams tracked the suspected movement through multiple toll plazas before intercepting an Assam-registered Hyundai Creta near Lucknow on August 21. The vehicle initially appeared empty, and its occupants denied involvement in any illegal activity.
However, officers became suspicious during questioning after the occupants disclosed that the vehicle had been refuelled four times while travelling a distance of only around 500 kilometres. A physical tapping test of the vehicle’s fuel tank reportedly revealed an unusual hollow acoustic response, raising further suspicion.
The vehicle was subsequently taken to the CBN office in Lucknow for a detailed examination. With technical assistance, officers dismantled the fuel tank and discovered a specially fabricated hidden compartment. The cavity contained 25 waterproof packages carrying 16.48 kg of crude heroin, according to the agency. Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested.
In a parallel operation, the CBN Uttar Pradesh Unit developed another actionable intelligence input regarding the transportation of contraband through the Siliguri-Lucknow corridor. The information indicated that a heavy commercial truck was being used to transport the drugs.
CBN teams launched surveillance of the truck and tracked its movement across several toll plazas. The vehicle was eventually intercepted near Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh. A systematic physical inspection revealed a specially constructed secret chamber concealed within the truck’s body frame.
Officers recovered 2.16 kg of crude heroin from the hidden compartment and arrested one suspect in connection with the seizure.
Together, the two operations resulted in the recovery of 18.64 kg of crude heroin from two vehicles. The CBN said the seizures highlight the increasingly sophisticated concealment methods being adopted by inter-state drug trafficking networks, including fabricated fuel tanks and secret chambers built into vehicle structures.
The three arrested suspects have been booked under stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The two vehicles used for transporting the contraband have also been confiscated.
Following the arrests and seizures, the CBN has initiated detailed financial and logistical investigations. The probe will focus on identifying the upstream suppliers operating in the northeastern region as well as tracing the downstream distribution network in Uttar Pradesh and other possible destinations.
Officials are also examining the wider network associated with the arrested suspects to identify additional individuals involved in procurement, transportation, financing and distribution of the narcotics.
The CBN’s latest action comes amid continuing efforts by enforcement agencies to disrupt inter-state drug trafficking routes and prevent narcotics from reaching consumer markets. The agency said the investigation into ‘Operation Black Hawk’ remains ongoing, with further action expected as investigators trace the supply and distribution chain.
Key Details
- Total crude heroin seized: 18.64 kg
- Heroin recovered from Hyundai Creta: 16.48 kg
- Heroin recovered from heavy truck: 2.16 kg
- Total arrests: Three
- Vehicles seized: Assam-registered Hyundai Creta and heavy commercial truck
- Concealment methods: Fabricated fuel tank compartment and secret chamber in truck body
- Law invoked: NDPS Act, 1985
