Phulbani: In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics trade, police in Odisha’s Kandhamal district have seized approximately 4.5 tonnes of ganja hidden inside a forest area, officials said on Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off from a reliable source, a team from Phulbani Sadar Police Station conducted a late-night raid on Tuesday in the Bilabadi area. The operation was led by Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Pradeep Kumar Jena along with Sub-Inspector Sambit Behera.
During the search, police recovered the contraband packed in nearly 200 sacks, which had been hidden in the forest, allegedly for transportation and smuggling purposes. However, the suspected smugglers managed to escape under the cover of darkness after sensing the police presence.
A case has been registered at Phulbani Sadar Police Station in this regard, and further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those involved in the illegal operation.
Police officials indicated that efforts are ongoing to trace the supply network and determine the intended destination of the seized consignment.
