Interstate ganja smuggling racket busted

Brahmapur: The Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Crime Branch has arrested three members of an interstate cannabis trafficking syndicate operating between Odisha and Rajasthan and seized Rs 3.86 lakh in cash during raids linked to an ongoing investigation.

The arrests were made in connection with the seizure of 227.4 kg of ganja from a container truck intercepted on NH-16 near Pitapali in Khordha district on April 18 while the contraband was allegedly being transported from Adava in Gajapati district to Rajasthan.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sibaram Biswal and Sibaram Patra of Digapahandi in Ganjam district, and Kana Mitu alias Manoranjan Sabat of Brahmapur. Mobile phones and other incriminating materials were also seized during searches.

According to the STF, the accused allegedly played a key role in procuring, concealing and transporting commercial quantities of ganja from Odisha to Rajasthan and other parts of the country through an organised trafficking network. A financial investigation has also been launched to trace the proceeds of the crime and identify other members of the syndicate.

The STF said it is preparing a comprehensive database of interstate drug traffickers and has sought information from crime branches of various States to strengthen its data-driven campaign against organised narcotics networks. The arrested accused were produced before the court. The STF is seeking police remand of two of them for further investigation.