Phulbani, Aug 26: Tikabali Police in Kandhamal district seized 175.7 kg of ganja and arrested a 21-year-old man during a raid near Badi Munda Chhak.

Acting on a tip-off, police reportedly reached an isolated forest area near the location, where the accused was allegedly waiting for a bus with sacks of ganja.

A police team led by Tikabali Police Station IIC Shiva Ranjan Singh, along with SI Pradip Kumar Raul, AMI Shivaram Bishoyi, Panchanan Mallik and Forest Department personnel, conducted the raid.

During the operation, police seized seven jute sacks containing ganja. The contraband was weighed in the presence of Additional Tehsildar Bighnaraj Kahar, and the total quantity was found to be 175 kg 700 grams.

The arrested accused was identified as Sohiji Pardhi (21), son of Lala Singh, a resident of Khalora village under Sahanagar police limits in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh.

According to police, the accused allegedly worked with other associates to collect ganja from different villages in Kandhamal and transport it to Madhya Pradesh.

Tikabali Police registered a case under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act and forwarded the accused along with the seized contraband to the Baliguda Court.

Police said further investigation is underway to identify the other persons allegedly involved in the interstate ganja trafficking network.