Phulbani: In a major crackdown on illegal activities, Baliguda police seized 127 kilograms of ganja and five country-made guns during a raid in Kandhamal district.
Two persons, identified as Balia Pradhan and Sujan Pradhan of Tilori Panchayat, were arrested in connection with the case.
Police said the duo had long been engaged in ganja smuggling and illegal arms trade in the region.
The recovery underscores the growing nexus between narcotics trafficking and the circulation of country-made firearms in Kandhamal.
Baliguda SDPO Ramendra Prasad said the raid was conducted under Operation Prahar based on intelligence inputs.
“We had received information from secret sources about people involved in illegal arms manufacturing. Acting on the tip-off, we intensified raids and seized five country-made weapons along with 127 kg of ganja,” he said.
He further added that the arrested duo supplied arms to criminals, dacoits, ganja smugglers, and even poachers.
“They were not only manufacturing and supplying firearms but also deeply connected to the ganja mafia and networks involved in wildlife crimes,” Prasad said.
Police confirmed that further investigation is underway to trace the wider network and identify others linked to the racket.
