LUCKNOW, May 19 -- In a crackdown on the city's illegal drug trade, Lucknow Police arrested two men who were using their scrap trading business as a front to smuggle and sell marijuana.

"The accused were caught red-handed with 5.5 kilograms of illegal ganja, exposing a supply chain that ran from Odisha to various parts of Lucknow," said Shivanand Mishra, SHO, Madiaon Police station. He said that the accused were arrested near the Engineering College bridge, following a late-night patrol and a tip-off from an informer.

"The two men were intercepted while they were waiting to deliver the contraband to customers," he added.

"Upon interrogation, the accused Santosh Patel, 40, and Parmendra, 34, admitted that they used to purchase marijuana...