Two Sri Lankans held near Lucknow for carrying drugs

Lucknow, Nov 22 (IANS) Police in Uttar Pradesh claim to be on the verge of unearthing an international drug trafficking racket, following the arrest of two Sri Lankans late Friday with a large quantity of drugs.

The two Sri Lankans, Matheranga Vijaydeva and Vellaithamma Chanda, were arrested by the state police's Special Task Force (STF) from a bus stand in Barabanki district, 28 km from Lucknow. Nearly 18 kg of refined 'charas' (hashish) was found hidden in the inner lining of their suitcases, the police claimed.

'The interrogation of the two is still in process and we hope to reveal their network soon,' Barabanki Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar told IANS on phone.

Meanwhile a STF source said the duo have revealed that they were in constant touch with their Indian links in Bahraich, Gonda, Balrampur and Siddharthnagar districts of Uttar Pradesh as well as in Motihari, Champaran and other districts of Bihar bordering Nepal.

'They used to source drug via these links from Nepal and smuggle them to Sri Lanka,' the source said.