₹230 crore worth of contraband seized in Odisha

Intensifying its drive to make Odisha drug-free, the state police has seized narcotic substances worth ₹230 crore banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), in two separate interceptions in Koraput district along the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border.

Acting on reliable intelligence, a special team was constituted under the direction of the DIG (Southern Range) and led by the Superintendent of Police, Koraput. The team conducted a raid at an illegal temporary manufacturing unit operating in the forest area of Jholaput under Paduwa Police Station near the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border.

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During the operation, police seized more than 180 litres of hashish oil (extracted from cannabis), with an estimated market value of approximately ₹225 crore. Equipment and materials used in the manufacturing process were also confiscated. The accused persons managed to flee the spot, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.

Hashish oil is an oleoresin obtained from the extraction of cannabis. It is a cannabis concentrate containing many of its resins and terpenes, particularly tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. The oil is usually consumed by smoking, vaporizing, or ingesting, police said.

In another crackdown, police seized 1,143 kg of ganja valued at approximately ₹5 crore and arrested four accused persons. The contraband was being smuggled in two Mahindra pickup vehicles. Acting on specific intelligence regarding illegal transportation, police intercepted the vehicles and carried out the seizure.

Preliminary investigation revealed that two of the arrested individuals are from Semiliguda in Koraput district, while the other two are from Haryana. Investigation into the case is ongoing.

Of late, the State Police has embarked on sustained and coordinated operations across Odisha to curb illegal cultivation and trafficking of cannabis and other narcotic substances. As a result of intensified enforcement, offenders are attempting to modify their modus operandi.

Since ganja is bulky and large in volume, its transportation is difficult and more prone to detection. Consequently, traffickers are increasingly processing ganja into hashish oil, which is higher in value and easier to transport in smaller quantities. The market value of one litre of hashish oil is estimated to be nearly 25 times higher than that of one kilogram of ganja, making it more lucrative for criminal networks.