Lucknow, Jun 27 (IANS): The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two drug smugglers and recovered over 300 kg of marijuana worth Rs 17 lakh in the international market, from Kushinagar district.

The accused informed that the narcotics were loaded from Assam and were transported to Uttar Pradesh via Bihar border.

“The two arrested accused have been identified as Brijesh Kumar, a resident of Farrukhabad and Shiv Shankar, a resident of Aliganj, Lucknow. A case was registered against the accused in Kushinagar under Section 8/20 of the NDPS Act,” said the STF spokesman.

Along with the narcotics, two trucks with UP number plates, two mobile phones and cash worth Rs 500 were also seized.

The spokesman said that late on Monday night, the STF got information about the illegal narcotic being transported to the state from Assam via Bihar border. An additional truck was also kept on the route to divert attention.

Taking the help of the local police on the information received, after reaching the spot mentioned by the informer, at Tadwa Mor under the Tamkuhi Police Station area, a truck was seen coming from Bihar. When the truck was stopped and searched, the aforesaid illegal cannabis was recovered and the truck drivers were arrested.

The accused said they loaded illegal marijuana from Assam which was given to them by a person named Deepak.

“We take two rounds in a month. We bring illegal Ganja to Gorakhpur and give it to the person there. We have been doing this work for almost 5 years,” the arrested accused said.