The mofussil police in Hazaribagh on Tuesday seized a pickup truck carrying 41 bags with 164kg of marijuana worth Rs 3.5 lakh.

Sadar subdivisional police officer Kamal Kishore said the raid followed a tip-off. He said a police team was alerted which kept eyes on the movement of vehicles on the Ranchi-Patna highway (NH-33).

Kishore said the consignment of marijuana was on its way to Bihar from Koraput in Odisha via Ranchi.

He said the superintendent of police, Karthik S., had received a tip-off on Monday.

The two men in the vehicle tried to escape but were apprehended. Kishore confirmed the arrests of two from the van who were identified as driver Sunil Kumar of Kalahandi in Odisha and cleaner Baleshwar Nath of Bistupur in Jamshedpur.

Rs 20,000 in cash was recovered from their possession.

The recovered consignment cost Rs.3.5lakh in the international market. He said they had identified persons who were behind this illegal business and efforts on to nab them.

Funds misuse

An inquiry has revealed the alleged misuse of around Rs 19 lakh from Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act funds in Hazaribagh. Two rojgar sevaks have been held responsible for withdrawing the amount through 28 different bank accounts.

The inquiry also pointed the finger of suspicion at than block development officer of Tatijharia, Kumudini Tuddu. An order has been passed to start departmental action against Tuddu and a report against her will be sent to Ranchi for further action.

The alleged scam involves rojgar sevak of Ichak block, Amit Kumar and his counterpart of Khaira in Tatijharia, Krishna Kumar. Rs 18.77 lakh was released as part of Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act for construction of 28 farm pond in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018

Amit used the bank accounts of his wife, Neetu Singh, and father, Dhaneshwar Lal Singh, to receive the money. The inquiry confirmed that none of the account holders were residents of Tatijharia block. The ponds were not constructed or left incomplete despite the release of funds.

According to officials, an FIR will be lodged soon.