Gajapati, Ap 7: In a significant anti-drug operation, Odisha police have recovered a massive stash of cannabis hidden on a hilltop near Karigiju village. The seizure included 113 sacks containing approximately 28 quintals and 11 kilograms of cannabis, with an estimated street value of around ₹3 crore.

Officials noted that traffickers are increasingly using remote hilltops and dense forests to evade law enforcement, a tactic adopted after previous raids focused on residential hideouts.

The operation was conducted based on specific intelligence and involved police personnel from Adaba and Ramgiri stations, led by Rakesh Kumar Sahu, SDPO of R Udayagiri. The contraband was stored in remote areas for illegal transportation to other states.

Authorities have assured enhanced patrolling and monitoring of hard-to-reach areas to prevent further drug trafficking in the region.