PATNA: The state police headquarters has come to know that illegal arms manufacturers in Munger have adopted barter system when it comes to supplying their products to West Bengal as they are accepting narcotics from smugglers in the neighbouring state in exchange.
The matter came to light when a special task force team of Bihar police arrested Pintu Yadav, Rohan Kumar and Mohammad Abu Salim from Khagaria town on February 2 and recovered four semi-automatic country-made pistols, 19 cartridges, three extra magazines, four cellphones and a bike from their possession.
Salim had come from Malda in West Bengal to take arms consignment from Pintu and Rohan, residents of ward number 24 of Khagaria town, who had collected the consignment from illegal firearms manufacturers in Munger.
Interrogations revealed that drug smugglers from West Bengal had supplied narcotics to the Munger arms manufacturers.
ADG (headquarters) Jitendra Kumar said this was the first such case in the state. He added economic offences unit (EOU) of the state police would be roped in to carry out investigation.
ADG (EOU) Nayyar Hasnain Khan said they would start working on the case after getting instruction from the police headquarters.
Meanwhile, an IPS officer said prohibition and government’s crackdown on drug smuggling have resulted in rise in narcotics price in the state. “This is one strong reason why criminals have adopted barter system,” he added.
Another senior IPS officer said Munger and neighbouring diara areas were earlier a hub for illegal firearms manufacturing. “Due to continuous crackdown on mini gun factories, the manufacturing units have now shifted to West Bengal,” he said.