Cannabis worth over Rs 2 crore seized in different parts of Odisha; 3 held

Rayagada/Jeypore: Odisha police busted two cannabis smuggling rackets including an inter-state drug trafficking gang with seizure of ganja worth over Rs 2 crore by arresting 3 accused persons  in Koraput and Rayagada districts.

Acting on a tip-off, the Jeypore Sadar Police on December 5 evening intercepted two cars bearing registration numbers of Haryana and Madhya Pradesh in which the banned contraband was being transported to other states from Koraput district. The police apprehended two persons from the cars who were smuggling the ganja.

The accused duo has been identified as Sandeep Kumar (27) from Rohatak district of Haryana and Balbir Rana (38), a resident of Delhi.

During search, the police seized a total of 129.500 kg contraband ganja (53.700 kg and 75.800 kg) that is valued at Rs 65.50 lakh from two cars.

The police also seized aadhaar cards of the accused persons, one RuPay card, one VISA card of Bank of Baroda, DL, one mobile phone and a pan card from their possessions.

Source said that the accused duo was smuggling ganja from Lamtaput in Koraput district to Haryana and Delhi.

The two accused persons were booked under section 20(B)(II)(C) of NDPS Act 1985.

In another incident, the STF detected an illegal trade of narcotic drugs on the state high way-326 near Limamode over bridge under Gunupur police limits in Rayagada district today.

One accused person identified as Ayubo Sabar of Sampen village under Nuagaon police limits was arrested in connection with the ganja smuggling.

The STF seized huge cache of ganja weighing 302 kg that costs over Rs 1.50 crore.

A case has been registered under section 20(B)(II)(c)/29 of NDPS Act 1985 against the accused and the investigation is underway.