Baripada: In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics trade, Bangiriposi police on Friday seized over one quintal of ganja and arrested six persons during a patrol in the Dwarasuni Ghat area of Mayurbhanj district.
According to Bangiriposi Police Station IIC Birendra Kumar Senapati, intensified highway checking had been underway for the past few days when police received a tip-off about ganja transportation through the region.
Acting swiftly, the patrol team attempted to intercept a suspicious car on the ghat road. However, the driver sped away and later rammed the vehicle into an abandoned truck near Dolagobinda Temple at the base of the ghat.
The police team chased down the car and recovered more than one quintal of ganja from it. Another vehicle, which was reportedly escorting the contraband-laden car, also attempted to flee but was stopped by the patrol team. Both vehicles were seized and brought to Bangiriposi police station.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the arrested accused hail from Phulbani district. Police said further inquiry is underway to trace the larger network of the smuggling racket.