Malkangiri: Kalimela police have seized 1,025 kg of ganja, estimated to be worth around Rs 1.02 crore, from a forested area near MV-73 village under Kangurukonda panchayat, police said.
Acting on information about a large quantity of ganja allegedly concealed inside the forest, a police team conducted a raid in the area and recovered the contraband.
However, those involved in the illegal trade had fled the spot before the raid, police said. The ganja is suspected to have been concealed in the forest for subsequent transportation to other states.
Police have launched an investigation to identify those behind the consignment, ascertain the source of the ganja and determine its intended destination.
The seizure comes amid intensified action under the state government’s ‘Nisha Mukta Odisha’ campaign, under which police have been conducting raids as well as awareness programmes against drug abuse and trafficking.
According to police, Kalimela police have seized more than three tonnes of ganja in raids at different locations over the past month.
With the recovery of such a large consignment, police are now focusing on identifying the wider network involved in the illegal trade and tracing the source and intended route of the seized ganja.
