Athmallik, Jul 21: The Excise Department conducted a raid at Bareni Chhak in Athmallik and seized a quantity of ganja, arresting two alleged smugglers and confiscating the vehicle used for transportation.

The arrested persons have been identified as Biswajit Nayak and Sukanta Behera, both residents of Tikapali area in Kandhamal district (Phulbani). Acting on intelligence inputs, the Athmallik Excise team intercepted their car during the raid and recovered the contraband.

The seized ganja and the vehicle have been taken into custody, and a case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act. The accused have been arrested and further investigation is underway to trace the source and intended destination of the consignment.

The seizure once again highlights Athmallik as a key transit route for illegal ganja trafficking. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine whether the accused are linked to a larger interstate smuggling network.