Two Men Sentenced to 10 Years in 1,302-Kg Ganja Trafficking Case

VARANASI: A fast-track court in Varanasi has sentenced two men to ten years of rigorous imprisonment each in a narcotics case arising from the seizure of 1,302.5 kilograms of ganja from a truck near Dafi in 2020.

Additional Sessions Judge Manoj Kumar II also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on each convict. The judgment provides for an additional year of imprisonment if the fine is not paid, according to the court report. The men were identified as Hridayanand Rai of Koilwar in Bihar’s Ara district and Bhagirathi Benia of Dumriput in Odisha.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had received information on October 9, 2020 about a consignment moving from Andhra Pradesh towards Prayagraj through Varanasi. Officers intercepted the truck near Dafi toll plaza at about 3.30 am on October 10. The cannabis was found concealed beneath 160 sacks of maize, the prosecution said.

Special prosecutor Shyam Saroj Dubey presented the case. The conviction means the trial court accepted the prosecution evidence after hearing the defence; it is no longer accurate to describe the two men merely as accused at this stage. They nevertheless retain any right of appeal available under law.

Large narcotics seizures often attract attention for the headline weight, but a court must decide more specific questions: whether the search and sampling followed legal procedure, whether the substance was established through forensic examination, whether the accused had conscious possession or a proven role, and whether the chain of custody remained intact. Procedural safeguards are central in cases carrying long mandatory or minimum sentences.

The use of an agricultural load as cover illustrates a recurring trafficking method. Legitimate freight moves in large volumes across state lines, and traffickers attempt to hide contraband within ordinary supply chains. Enforcement agencies therefore rely on specific intelligence and risk indicators rather than treating every truck as suspect.

The Dafi area sits on a major road approach to Varanasi and has featured in several interception operations. A seizure there prevents the load from continuing, but it does not by itself dismantle the financing, suppliers and intended distribution network. Investigators gain more lasting results when a case traces communications and money without compromising admissibility or due process.

For the public, narcotics enforcement should be judged by sound investigations and sustainable convictions, not only photographs of seized sacks. Poor sampling or gaps in documentation can undo months of work. In this case, the trial concluded with ten-year sentences and financial penalties more than five years after the interception.

The judgment closes the trial-court stage of a major 2020 seizure. Any further legal change will depend on appellate proceedings. Until then, the court’s order stands as the operative outcome for both convicted men.