Noida: A sophisticated ganja delivery gang operating in Noida has been busted by the police, revealing a multi-layered operation that involved offline scouting, digital transactions, and home delivery through courier apps. The Noida Sector-113 Police arrested three men, including the mastermind, Yogendra Pratap Singh, following the seizure of 10.1 kilograms of high-quality ganja and associated packing material, with an estimated black-market value of ₹30 lakh.
According to DCP Yamuna Prasad, the gang’s method was meticulous. Members initially approached potential buyers near colleges and corporate offices, sharing their phone numbers for orders. Transactions were conducted digitally, with payments via UPI apps and PayTM, and delivery locations shared through apps like Porter.
The gang’s ingenuity extended to packaging. The seized ganja was disguised in boxes and tapes mimicking popular e-commerce platforms, often accompanied by fake invoices for legal goods. Delivery agents, unaware of the actual contents, served as a buffer, ensuring that if intercepted, the courier would be implicated while the main suppliers remained protected.
The arrested members included Yogendra Pratap Singh from Kannauj, Suraj alias Rudra from Nalanda, Bihar, and Shivkesh Tripathi from Hardoi. DCP Prasad stated that Singh, who previously worked in a private company in Noida, began the ganja trade after observing rising demand. He had been involved in the narcotics business for five years and had prior arrests for similar offenses.
Police investigations revealed that the gang sourced ganja from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Nepal, and Shillong. The recovered marijuana is of high quality, reportedly costing five times more than regular ganja. All three accused have been sent to jail, and further investigations are ongoing to identify other network members.
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, trafficking ganja can attract penalties of up to 10 years in jail.
