Major Drug Bust in Odisha: Police Dismantle Sophisticated Hashish Oil Laboratory
In a meticulously planned and executed operation, Koraput district police in Odisha have successfully dismantled a clandestine inter-state hashish oil syndicate, arresting six individuals including the alleged mastermind from Kerala. The swift action came within 30 hours of raiding a sophisticated temporary drug laboratory concealed on a remote island inside the Jolaput reservoir.
Amphibious Raid Leads to Massive Seizure
Acting on precise intelligence inputs, police teams launched an amphibious operation on February 26, approaching the isolated island by boats before trekking through dense undergrowth to strike the extraction unit. The raid resulted in the seizure of 1,800.5 litres of hashish oil valued at over Rs 225 crore and 1,000 kg of ganja worth approximately Rs 5 crore.
Investigators discovered a full-fledged improvised laboratory setup, including a 28 KV generator, modified pressure cookers fitted with custom piping, metal connectors, storage drums, and nearly 80 litres of cleaning solvents. This sophisticated equipment indicated large-scale commercial production capabilities.
30-Hour Manhunt Across Hostile Terrain
Deputy Inspector General (South Western Range) Kanwar Vishal Singh explained that while one accused was apprehended at the site, the alleged mastermind and his associates had fled into the dense forest moments before police reached the unit. What followed was an intense 30-hour cordon and search operation across the island and surrounding terrain.
The entire island, spread across several miles with two mounds, was completely sealed. All ferry points and possible escape routes were systematically blocked, with continuous boat patrolling conducted inside the reservoir. Six ground teams conducted comprehensive grid searches and combing operations, while drones were deployed across multiple sectors to track movement under the dense canopy, the DIG stated.
Arrest of Kerala-Based Kingpin
Despite the challenging and hostile terrain, police succeeded in arresting Allen Jayaraj (33) of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, identified as the kingpin and main cook of the syndicate. Five other individuals were also apprehended: Kiran D (33), Anand Raj (28), and Bittu B (34) from Kerala, along with local facilitators Lalchan Khilla (25) of Malkangiri and Sadhu Pangi (45) of Koraput.
This was a well-structured inter-state syndicate with technical expertise and organised logistics. By dismantling the laboratory and arresting the kingpin within hours of the raid, we have struck at the manufacturing backbone of the racket, Singh emphasized.
Sophisticated Operation and Criminal Background
Preliminary interrogation indicates that Jayaraj, described by police as a history-sheeter in Kerala with a violent criminal past and prior NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases, identified the secluded island to establish a high-output extraction unit. The gang allegedly procured bulk quantities of ganja and converted it into high-purity hashish oil using a multi-stage process involving specialised chemicals and controlled heating.
Superintendent of Police (Koraput) Rohit Verma revealed that the operation had been in development for days. Jayaraj leveraged his criminal network and local contacts in the ganja trade to establish the unit, which was set up barely 15 days ago. Their funding sources and forward linkages are under active investigation, and we will seek his remand for sustained interrogation, Verma stated.
Inter-State Network and Investigation Intensification
Police confirmed that the Kerala-based members handled production and inter-state distribution, while local facilitators sourced raw materials and exploited their familiarity with the rugged terrain to shield the operation from detection.
To further intensify the investigation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed under the SP's supervision to monitor the probe. Forensic examination of seized materials and financial investigations are currently underway, with multiple teams being dispatched to other states to map the broader smuggling network.
More details cannot be divulged at this stage as the investigation is in progress, the DIG said, while appealing to the public to assist police under the Nasha Mukt Odisha campaign against drug abuse.
