Rourkela: A major drug smuggling racket was busted with the seizure of 1,914 kg of ganja valued at approximately Rs 4 crore and the arrest of five individuals, including a truck driver from Uttar Pradesh, Bargarh police announced on Thursday.
Case Registered Under NDPS Act
A case was registered at Jharbandh police station on May 6 under sections 20(b)(ii)(C) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with Section 111(2)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Details of the Accused
The arrested individuals include truck driver Kallu (30), a resident of Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh, and four others: Shankar Naik (28), Bharatram Patel (54), Pritam Naik (56), and Bhojraj Patel (38), all residents of different villages in the Jharbandh area of Bargarh district.
How the Bust Happened
In a press release, Bargarh Superintendent of Police Prahlad Sahal Meena stated that the breakthrough occurred during a patrol by Sub-Inspector Bina Tirkey of Paikmal police station in the Jharbandh area on May 5. Around 9 pm, she intercepted a truck bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number coming from the Dava side. During the search, police recovered 67 packets containing a total of 1,914 kg of ganja concealed inside the truck.
Interrogation Reveals Consignment Details
During interrogation, accused Shankar disclosed that the consignment was being transported from the Patnagarh side towards Raipur at the direction of one Balmiki Naik and Pritam of Putukidunguri village. The truck was being piloted by a car with a Chhattisgarh registration number, driven by one Narendra Patel, and another vehicle with an Odisha number, allegedly driven by Balmiki.
Seizures and Investigation
Jharbandh police seized the truck and both escort vehicles, along with two mobile phones and Rs 730 in cash. The release added, 'Further investigation is underway to trace the backward and forward linkages of the racket and identify other associates involved in the smuggling network.'
