Lucknow, Aug. 24 -- The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) cracked down on an inter-state heroin syndicate and seized a total of 18.64 kg of crude heroin in back-to-back operations near Lucknow under Operation "Black Hawk", officials said on monday.

According to the CBN, three key members of the inter-state trafficking network have been arrested. The seized contraband had originated from a North-Eastern state and was being trafficked for consumption in Uttar Pradesh.

Based on specific inputs regarding drug movement from the North-East region to Lucknow, joint teams from the CBN Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh units established a strategic cordon along the Sultanpur-Lucknow Highway on the intervening night of August 20-21.

Following con...