Ghaziabad, Aug 9 — A combined operation by specialised and local police units resulted in the arrest of three suspected drug traffickers and the recovery of a large consignment of cannabis near the Hindon Barrage late on Saturday, officials said.
Joint operation after tip-off leads to chase and exchange of fire
According to a report filed with law enforcement and carried by IANS, the SWAT team, the surveillance unit and Vijay Nagar police acted on information that three men were transporting narcotics from Indirapuram towards the Hindon Barrage on a scooter without a number plate. The police said the vehicle failed to stop when signalled and fled towards Pushta Road, where it skidded on a dirt track and all three riders fell.
“On the night of August 8, 2026, police received information from an informer that three men were travelling on a scooter without a number plate from Indirapuram towards Hindon Barrage to deliver a consignment of narcotics. Acting on the information, the SWAT team, Surveillance team and Vijay Nagar police set up a checking operation,”
The Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kotwali Nagar), Upasana Pandey, said the accused allegedly opened fire as officers approached. Police returned fire and two of the men were hit; a third was taken into custody at the scene. The two injured have been admitted to hospital for treatment, the police said.
- Three accused arrested near Pushta Road after scooter skidded on a dirt track.
- 21 kg of marijuana recovered along with two illegal pistols and empty cartridges.
- Scooter involved had no number plate; criminal histories of the accused are under probe.
Police said preliminary identification named one of the arrested men as Anas, who, they added, already faces more than a dozen First Information Reports (FIRs). The records and possible criminal antecedents of the other two suspects — identified as Dilshad and Aslam in the police account — are being examined, the report said.
| Item | Count / Details |
|---|---|
| Marijuana recovered | 21 kg |
| Firearms | Two illegal pistols |
| Scooter | Without number plate |
| Other | Empty cartridges recovered |
Police personnel at the scene said law and order had been restored and that formal legal action was being taken. An investigation into the seizure, the origin and intended destination of the consignment, and the broader network involved has been launched, according to the account filed with media by IANS.
Implications for Ghaziabad policing and narcotics control
Ghaziabad, part of the National Capital Region, has in recent years seen intensified anti-narcotics activity by state police and specialised squads. Large seizures and arrests are routinely followed by investigations aimed at mapping supply chains and arresting handlers and distributors. While police described this operation as the result of timely intelligence and coordinated enforcement, the recovery of 21 kg of ganja underscores continuing demand and distribution channels in the region.
Officials said they will complete medico-legal formalities for the injured suspects and proceed with the statutory processes required in cases involving discharge of firearms against police personnel. Further details are awaited as investigators process the scene and file the relevant charge-sheets, the police statement reported.
Residents in areas along Indirapuram and near the Hindon riverfront said security operations of this nature draw attention to the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb narcotics trafficking, but also highlight the challenges posed by transient routes and unregistered vehicles used to transport consignments. Police urged citizens to share credible information through designated channels to assist in preventive action.
