Patna: A joint team of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) and the special task force (STF) seized marijuana ( ganja) worth Rs 70 lakh and arrested two smugglers from Purnea district, around 300km northeast of Patna, on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, DRI and STF personnel intercepted a truck near Harda bridge on National Highway 31 and recovered marijuana weighing 13.32 quintals. The raiding team arrested two smugglers, Mohammad Jariuddin and Mubarak Sheikh.

The consignment was booked from Agartala by one Mithun Ghosh, a resident of Murshidabad district in Bengal, and was to be delivered to Dharamvir Rai of Terasia village in Vaishali district. One Anil Kumar, a resident of Barari in Katihar district, was to receive the consignment.

The arrested smugglers reportedly told interrogators that they were promised a handsome amount in lieu of the work. Altogether 132 packets of marijuana were to be delivered to the Vaishali resident but they were caught midway. They also revealed the names of other drug peddlers involved in the illegal trade.

A laptop, three mobiles and identity cards were also seized from the possession of the two arrested narcotics dealers.

A police officer posted in Purnea said senior police officers quizzed the two arrested smugglers. "Raids are underway to nab others involved in the business," the police officer added.

On May 19, a police team attached to Bidupur police station in Vaishali district had seized 150kg of marijuana from a banana orchard at Dawoodpur village. The seized contraband was estimated to be worth Rs 10 lakh. However, the smugglers managed to escape.

Bidupur in Vaishali district has of late become a hub of narcotics trade in the state. The demand for marijuana has increased in the state after the prohibition, which was enforced in April 2016.