Khordha: In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Khordha Police successfully intercepted a major ganja smuggling operation on Tuesday.
The contraband, weighing a staggering 929 kilograms, was being transported in a pickup truck from the Adaba area in Gajapati district to Puri. Police have arrested two persons in this connection.
The accused have been identified as Basant Patra (27) from Baunsagadia village under Odagaon Police Station limits in Nayagarh district, and Jitu Nayak (31) from Jhalsahi village under Mohana Police Station in Gajapati district.
The seizure took place at the Chandaneswar Flyover Bridge on National Highway 16, under the jurisdiction of Tangi Police Station.
Acting on a tip-off received at 8 AM, a special team from Tangi Police set up a checkpoint at the flyover.
The suspected pickup truck (OR 07 Q 1856) was stopped and thoroughly searched, leading to the discovery of 34 bags filled with ganja.
Of these, 33 bags contained 28 kilograms each, while the remaining bag held 5 kilograms of the illegal substance.
According to police sources, the accused had transported the ganja from the Adaba area and were en route to deliver it to Puri.
Police have seized both the ganja and the pickup truck used in the smuggling operation.
A case has been registered, and further investigations are underway to uncover more details about the smuggling network.
