Ganja Worth ₹50 Lakh Seized in Odisha’s Koraput, Smugglers Escape

Koraput: In a major haul, Koraput police seized 505 kilograms of ganja, estimated to be worth over Rs 50 lakh, near Hanumal village under Machhakunda police limits on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a raid in a cashew jungle near the village and recovered the ganja, packed in 15 polythene bags. However, the smugglers managed to escape the raid.

“The seized ganja weighs 505 kilograms and 200 grams, with an estimated value of Rs 50 lakh,” informed a police source. An investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the culprits.

In a separate incident, a police flying squad in Kuchinda, Sambalpur district, seized Rs 5 lakh from a man on a scooter near the old bus stand. The man was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of the cash and was subsequently detained for questioning.

This action coincides with Odisha Police’s intensified checking of vehicles, particularly in districts bordering other states, to curb illegal cash movement ahead of upcoming elections.