Bhubaneswar, Sept. 2: Delhi police have put their Odisha counterparts on alert following the arrest of three members of an inter-state drug trafficking gang today. One of the arrested, a native of Berhampur, is believed to be the mastermind.

The suspected mastermind has been identified as Bapuji Sahu, 43, a native of Kukudakhandi under Berhampur Sadar police limits. The other two members were identified as Jitender Yadav, 22, from Delhi and Narender Kumar, 27, from Uttar Pradesh.

The Delhi police also seized around 75kg of ganja and one Honda car from them. Initial investigations suggest that Bapuji Sahu served in the army and was posted in Amritsar.

Police sources revealed that Yudhivir Singh, an assistant sub-inspector had information that a huge quantity of ganja was being smuggled to Delhi from Odisha and Bihar to be sold in various parts of Delhi. On August 30, specific information was received that a good quantity of ganja would be delivered at Sector 14 in Dwarka, Delhi. Acting on the tip off, a trap was laid by the police and the accused were apprehended in Dwarka around 5pm today.

The police found the 75kg of ganja in 30 packets. A complaint has been lodged.

Babuji Sahu was born and brought up in his native village in Odisha. In 1992, he joined Indian Army as a sepoy. Later, he was promoted to the rank of HMT gun fitter.

"He belongs to the area where illegal cultivation of the cannabis plant takes place. He came in contact with some people of his village, who used to sell ganja. Lured by the huge profit in this trade, he also started supplying ganja," said the police. Whenever he visited his native place, he would take ganja with him and supply it to his contacts in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. He used to transport the ganja by train concealing it in his luggage.<>