Malkangiri police seize ganja worth Rs 17 crore in 24 hours; 3 UP mafia arrested

In a major breakthrough against the illegal narcotics trade, the Malkangiri Police on Wednesday seized ganja worth around Rs 17 crore within just 24 hours after conducting multiple raids across different locations in the district.

According to reports, police recovered a total of 1,660 kilograms of ganja during the operations and arrested three smugglers hailing from Uttar Pradesh who were allegedly part of an inter-state drug trafficking network.

The first operation was carried out by Balimela Police, who intercepted a container truck and seized 770 kilograms of ganja that was being smuggled in a highly sophisticated manner. Three persons were arrested in connection with the case.

Similarly, Chitrakonda Police recovered 640 kilograms, and Kalimela Police seized 250 kilograms of ganja that had been hidden inside forest areas for transportation. However, the smugglers involved in these two cases managed to flee from the spot.

Also Read: Two BJD leaders arrested in ganja trafficking case in Odisha's Boudh

Police said that these crackdowns are part of a larger drive against ganja smuggling operations in the region. So far in 2025, the Malkangiri Police has registered 109 cases, seized 28,897 kilograms of ganja, confiscated 44 vehicles, and arrested 96 accused persons.

Comparatively, in 2024, the district police had seized 22,153 kilograms of ganja, impounded 60 vehicles, and arrested 147 individuals.

Officials stated that the recent operation marks one of the largest single-day seizures ever recorded in the district. Police sources added that continuous intelligence-based raids are being carried out to dismantle the entire network of inter-state smugglers operating from remote forest areas.

Experts have emphasized that apart from enforcement, awareness and livelihood initiatives among people living in remote and tribal regions are vital to permanently curb ganja cultivation. They also stressed the need to track down and arrest the main kingpins controlling the illegal trade.

When contacted, Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil H said, “We are committed to continuing our aggressive drive against ganja smugglers. No mafia involved in this trade will be spared.”

The police have confirmed that more intensified raids will be conducted in the coming days to ensure that Malkangiri remains free from ganja cultivation and trafficking.