Brajrajnagar: In a major success under the state government’s Nasha Mukta Odisha Abhiyan (Drug-Free Odisha Campaign), Brajrajnagar police have busted a ganja trafficking racket and arrested two persons while seizing more than 62 kg of contraband cannabis.
Addressing a press conference at the Brajrajnagar police station on Friday, Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Gundala Reddy Raghavendra informed that the arrested accused have been identified as Amarnath Dwivedi (27) of Lajkura under Brajrajnagar police station limits and Shrikant Das (42) of Kamira village in Boudh district.
During the operation, police seized 62 kg 60 grams of ganja, a scooter, a car, a mobile phone, and cash worth ₹14,050 from the accused.
According to police sources, the operation began after Brajrajnagar IIC Dhableswar Sahu received a tip-off on Thursday evening that a youth was transporting ganja on a scooter towards Lajkura. Acting swiftly, police personnel laid a trap at Lajkura Square.
At around 5 PM, the suspect arrived on the scooter and was immediately apprehended by the police. Upon interrogation in the presence of a magistrate, police recovered about 23 kg of ganja from his possession. The accused identified himself as Amarnath Dwivedi and revealed that he had procured the contraband from Shrikant Das of Boudh district.
Based on his disclosure, police conducted a search at Dwivedi’s residence, where additional quantities of ganja were recovered from two iron drums and an attaché case, raising the total seizure to over 62 kg.
Following the lead, two police teams were dispatched to Boudh district on Thursday night, where they arrested the second accused, Shrikant Das, believed to be the supplier.
SP Raghavendra said further investigation is underway to trace other individuals linked to the ganja trafficking network.
Among those present at the press briefing were Brajrajnagar SDPO Chintamani Pradhan, Brajrajnagar IIC Dhableswar Sahu, and Belpahar (Bonahar Pali) IIC Ranjit Nayak.
