Koraput, Sept 10: As part of Operation Prahaar's intensified crackdown on drug peddling, police in Padwa area of Odisha’s Koraput district seized 810 kilograms of ganja from a truck on Wednesday afternoon and arrested the driver.
The arrested driver has been identified as Gobarvhan Samadhan Ingle (28), a native of Washim district in Maharashtra.
Acting on a tip-off regarding smuggling of ganja from Muchimput in Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad, a day patrolling team led by Sub Inspector HSRRB Benia set up a checkpoint near Badadebata Chowk.
As per reports, the truck was seen approaching at high speed when the officers at the checkpoint signaled for it to stop. The driver of the vehicle did not comply and attempted to flee following which the cops chased it. Thereafter, the driver abandoned the vehicle near Sirasamal village and tried to escape into a nearby forest. However, he was quickly apprehended.
During the course of interrogation, the accused driver confessed that he and his employer, Surya from Hyderabad, had procured ganja from the dense forests of Muchimput on September 8. He revealed that local laborers had packed the contraband into secret cavities within the truck.
A thorough search of the vehicle was then conducted, leading to the recovery and seizure of 405 packets of ganja, each weighing 2 kg, totaling 810 kg. The seizure was carried out in the presence of witnesses and an Executive Magistrate.
The accused has been arrested and charged under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act. A case was registered in connection with the incident and efforts are on to apprehend the absconding owner Surya, said the police.
