Malkangiri: In a major blow to narcotics smuggling networks, Malkangiri police on Sunday seized 60 kg of hashish oil (liquid ganja) worth around Rs 8 crore near Essar Chowk under the Chitrakonda police station limits in Malkangiri district. Eight smugglers managed to flee the spot and a hunt has been launched to trace them, police said.
According to police, at around 11 am, Sub-Inspector Limai Charan Panda of Chitrakonda Police Station, along with his team, was on routine day patrolling when they received a tip-off that eight persons had gathered near Essar Chowk forest with eight motorcycles. They were allegedly preparing to transport contraband hashish oil to a buyer in Andhra Pradesh.
Acting on the information, the police team immediately proceeded to the location. However, on spotting the police vehicle, the suspects fled into the nearby dense forest, abandoning their motorcycles and a plastic sack containing a dark viscous liquid emitting a strong odour of cannabis. Despite efforts to chase them, the accused managed to escape.
On searching the area, police recovered one white plastic sack containing suspected hashish oil and eight motorcycles. All legal procedures for search and seizure were duly followed at the site, police said.
A case has been registered at Chitrakonda Police Station (Case No. 213/2025, dated November 2, 2025) under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act.
“The seized hashish oil has an estimated market value of Rs 12.5 lakh, while the total value of the seizure, including vehicles and materials, is roughly Rs 8 crore. Further investigation is underway, and efforts are being made to arrest the accused. This appears to be the first such case in Malkangiri and possibly in Odisha,” said Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil H while briefing the media.
