A major crackdown by police in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, targeting the operations of jailed drug trafficker Rajesh Mishra, has resulted in the seizure of a massive amount of cash and drugs, and the arrest of several family members who were allegedly running the syndicate.
Key Seizures
- Cash: ₹2,01,55,345 (approximately $2.4 million USD) in unaccounted currency, stacked in hidden compartments and bags.
- Drugs:
- 6.076 kg of ganja (cannabis) valued at ~₹60 lakh.
- 577 grams of smack (heroin) worth ~₹40 lakh.
- Total Value: Over ₹3 crore (₹2 crore cash + ₹1 crore drugs), marking Pratapgarh’s biggest such haul.
Five individuals were arrested on the spot:
- Reena Mishra (40): Rajesh’s wife, primary operator of the home-based distribution.
- Vinayak Mishra (19): Son, involved in packaging and local sales.
- Komal Mishra (20): Daughter, assisting in logistics.
- Ajeet Kumar Mishra (32): Relative, handling cash counting and concealment.
- Yash Mishra (19): Ajeet’s son, aiding in drug stashing.
Interrogations revealed Mishra, currently imprisoned on prior drug charges, was directing the network via smuggled phones and coded messages. The family confessed to managing daily operations, including street-level peddling in Manikpur and nearby areas. Shockingly, Reena and Vinayak admitted submitting forged documents to secure Mishra’s temporary bail earlier this year, allowing brief oversight of the racket.
Raid Details
- Trigger: Intelligence from undercover surveillance tipped off Manikpur SHO about suspicious activity at the Mishra home.
- Execution: A 20-member team, including anti-narcotics experts, cordoned the house at dawn. Resistance delayed entry until afternoon, leading to the chaotic “cash-counting” scene—family members frantically bundling notes and flushing small drug quantities.
- Forensic Follow-Up: Recovered items tested positive in preliminary labs; full analysis pending at Lucknow’s forensic center.
Broader Impact
Police suspect the Mishra syndicate supplied ganja and smack to at least 15 villages across Pratapgarh and neighboring districts, fueling addiction among youth. “This bust severs the jailed king’s proxy empire, preventing lakhs more from hitting streets,” said Pratapgarh SP Abhinandan Singh. Further probes into Mishra’s prison communications and potential accomplices (including corrupt officials) are underway, with raids expanding to Allahabad and Kaushambi.
The arrested face charges under NDPS Act, IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120B (conspiracy), plus money laundering. Remanded to 14-day judicial custody; trial expected in 3-6 months. This operation underscores UP Police’s crackdown on “jail-run” syndicates, with similar busts up 40% in 2025.