Khordha: The illegal ganja trade continues to thrive in Odisha as Excise officials seized a massive consignment of the contraband on the outskirts of the capital.
Acting on a tip-off, the department intercepted a pickup van near Chandeshwar on National Highway-16 in Khordha and seized 10 quintals and 50 kilograms of ganja, valued at more than ₹1 crore.
According to sources, the pickup van was transporting the contraband from Gajapati district to Puri. The Excise team carried out the raid late Wednesday night and arrested one person in connection with the smuggling.
The accused has been identified as Priya Ranjan Panda of Gudumu village in Khordha district.
Officials said further investigation is underway to trace the supply network and identify others involved in the smuggling racket.
Despite repeated crackdowns, Khordha continues to emerge as a major transit point for ganja smuggling, raising serious concerns about the persistence of the illegal trade.
