Athagarh, June 25: Acting on a tip-off about illegal narcotics trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) conducted a raid in Athagarh and seized a huge quantity of ganja that was allegedly being stored for transportation outside the district.
The raid was carried out in a forest area near Kandarpur Kundamundia under Athagarh police limits in Cuttack district. During the operation, STF officials recovered 1 quintal 92 kilograms and 750 grams of ganja packed in 11 plastic sacks.
One person, identified as Nilambar Kanhar, son of Khageswar Kanhar of Phiringia area in Kandhamal district, was arrested while allegedly guarding the contraband. However, the main accused in the racket reportedly managed to escape from the spot before the STF team arrived.
The seized ganja packets were sealed in the presence of Athagarh Additional Tehsildar and Executive Magistrate Tapan Kumar Parida following the completion of legal formalities.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the contraband had been brought from outside the district and was being stockpiled in Athagarh before being smuggled to destinations beyond the district borders.
The seizure has once again drawn attention to the growing illegal ganja trade in the Athagarh region. Local residents and officials have alleged that cannabis is being transported from districts such as Kandhamal and Malkangiri and stored at various locations in Athagarh before being clandestinely supplied to other parts of the state and outside Odisha.
Authorities have launched a further investigation to identify the absconding kingpin and uncover the broader network involved in the illegal drug trafficking operation.
