- Phiringia, May 28: In a significant crackdown on an inter-state drug trafficking racket, the Delhi Crime Branch, with the assistance of Gochhapada police, apprehended a youth from Kandhamal district allegedly involved in ganja smuggling and a suspicious ₹10 lakh bank transaction.
The accused, identified as 27-year-old Bhagirthi Pradhan of Mandibala village under Pakari Panchayat, Gochhapada police limits, was picked up from his residence during a late-night raid conducted by a five-member team from Delhi. The arrest follows an ongoing investigation by Delhi Police after a recent bust in the capital, where several individuals were caught with a large consignment of ganja.
During interrogation, the arrested individuals revealed links to a wider smuggling network stretching from Delhi to the remote blocks of Odisha. Further probe led investigators to trace financial transactions connected to the illegal trade, including a ₹10 lakh deposit in the bank passbook of Bhagirthi Pradhan.
Acting on this lead, the Delhi team reached Phulbani and, with local police support, conducted the raid that resulted in Pradhan’s arrest. He was subsequently taken to Delhi for further investigation.
Confirming the development, Gochhapada Sub-Inspector Ananta Kumar Pradhan stated that the accused was handed over to Delhi Police following due procedure.
