Lucknow, Nov 16 (IANS) Three drug peddlers, who operated in several states of the country, were arrested in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, police said Tuesday. Heroin worth Rs.2 crore was recovered from them.

The three were nabbed in the wee hours of Tuesday in a joint operation carried by district police and the special operation group (SOG) in Kotwali area of the district, some 30 km from Lucknow.

"The three are natives of Barabanki. They have been in the trade for the last five-six years," superintendent of police Navneet Rana told reporters.

"The men were arrested while they were on their way to hand over the drugs to some of their clients. We are yet to ascertain the source of the consignment. They are giving contradictory statements in this regard," he added.

Besides Uttar Pradesh, the gang operated in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, he said.

The three have been booked under multiple sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.