The excise officials on Friday seized 390 kg of ganja (dry cannabis) worth Rs 40 lakh following a series of raids at multiple locations in Malkangiri district. As per reports, a special team was constituted following the instructions of the district collector and excise superintendent.
Later acting on a tip-off, the team intercepted a person who was moving in a suspicious manner near Pipalpadar area. On being frisked, the team found some quantity of ganja in his possession. The team searched his house and recovered around 330 kg of ganja. It is suspected that the person had stored the ganja to smuggle it to other parts of the country.
In another case, around 30 kg of ganja was seized near Balimela. A person was allegedly transporting the contraband on a motorcycle when he was apprehended by the team.
“We have seized around 390 kg of ganja and its estimated market value is around Rs 40 lakh. We have registered two separate cases and further investigation in this connection is underway,” said a senior official.
(Reported by Jitendra Beura)