Court Sentences 5 Ganja Smugglers to 12 Years Imprisonment in Odisha’s Sundargarh

Sundargarh: A court in Sundargarh town handed down a verdict today, sentencing five individuals involved in ganja (cannabis) smuggling to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) each. Additionally, they were fined Rs 1 lakh individually, with an ultimatum of an extra six months of imprisonment if the fine isn’t paid, as per the ruling of the Additional Sessions Judge court.

The convicts hail from the Chandauli and Sonbhadra districts of Uttar Pradesh. Their apprehension and subsequent legal proceedings stemmed from a well-coordinated operation on March 1, 2022. Acting on credible intelligence, Rajgangpur police intercepted a vehicle, ultimately leading to the discovery and confiscation of over four quintals of ganja. The subsequent arrest of the five smugglers marked the commencement of an exhaustive investigation, culminating in their appearance before the local court.

It’s worth noting that no prior criminal records were established against the convicts throughout the proceedings. The sentencing, as per reports, was delivered under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.