Berhampur, Sept 15: In two separate operations over the weekend, excise and police authorities in Odisha arrested seven individuals involved in the illegal transportation of ganja.
On Sunday, the Intelligence and Enforcement Bureau of the Excise Department, in collaboration with local police, apprehended six individuals at Balisira in Ganjam district, who were found carrying 50 kilograms of ganja. The accused were allegedly transporting the contraband from Kandhamal to Bhubaneswar.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Dushasan Mallick (19), Jitendra Mallick (26), Satyanarayan Mallick (23), Samuel Digal (38), Prakash Mallick (19), and Ajit Kumar Digal (35).
Officials seized five mobile phones, a car, and two motorcycles from the accused, with the total value of the confiscated items estimated to be around Rs 30 lakh.
“While the ganja was being transported in the car, two others led the way on motorcycles,” said Srutikant Rout, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Intelligence and Enforcement Bureau.
Rout added that investigations are underway to determine whether the suspects are involved in previous drug trafficking cases and to identify any potential accomplices. “Thanks to our timely intervention, the attempt to transport ganja to other states was successfully thwarted,” he stated.
In a separate operation in Rourkela, police arrested 45-year-old Keshab Lenka on Sunday for allegedly transporting 700 grams of ganja. Acting on a tip-off, Sub-Inspector Subrat Panda and personnel from the Plantsite Police Station apprehended Lenka near Gate-2 of the Birsa Munda Athletic Stadium during a routine patrol.
Authorities have emphasized that the crackdown on ganja smuggling operations will continue as part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal drug trade across the state.
