Police in Kandhamal district have taken strong action against drug trafficking. They have frozen assets worth Rs 8 crore owned by two ganja smugglers. This move aims to cripple their financial networks.
Approval from Kolkata Authority
Kandhamal SP Harisha B C provided details about the operation. A competent authority under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in Kolkata approved the freezing. The authority sanctioned the freezing of assets worth about Rs 3.6 crore belonging to Dillip Kumar Gauda. It also approved the freezing of Rs 4.59 crore in assets owned by Asish Kumar Digal.
Special Teams Trace Illicit Wealth
The police formed special teams to conduct a financial investigation into NDPS cases. These teams included ASP Ramendra Prasad, DSP Manas Ranjan Barik, and SDPO P P Subhrajit Biswal. Their task was to trace the assets of the two traffickers. The teams successfully identified proceeds worth Rs 8.2 crore derived from the sale of narcotics. All these proceeds have now been frozen.
Arrests and Seizures
Baliguda police arrested Dillip Kumar Gauda on June 4, 2025. They seized 91 kg of ganja from him during the arrest. Phulbani police arrested Asish Kumar Digal on April 4, 2025. They recovered a massive 516 kg of ganja from Digal.
Detailed Breakdown of Frozen Assets
The frozen assets of Gauda and his family members cover various forms of wealth. They include around Rs 16.28 lakh in saving and fixed deposits. The list also features land and building valued at Rs 1.96 crore. Vehicles worth Rs 46.81 lakh and jewellery valued at Rs 28.16 lakh are part of the freeze. Police also seized cash amounting to Rs 1.63 lakh.
Similarly, the frozen assets of Digal and his family members show a diverse portfolio. These include bank accounts and fixed deposits totaling Rs 2.21 lakh. Land and buildings form a significant portion at Rs 3.48 crore. Vehicles worth Rs 57.48 lakh and jewellery valued at Rs 9.86 lakh are also frozen. Authorities seized cash of Rs 4.94 lakh as part of this action.
Legal Framework and Impact
Chapter V-A of the NDPS Act provides for the seizure and forfeiture of ill-gotten property. This section covers provisions from A to Z. The attachment of assets serves multiple purposes. It prevents the reinvestment of illicit proceeds into criminal activities. This action disrupts supply chains and hampers recruitment efforts. It also weakens the operational capacity of organised drug networks.
SP Harisha B C emphasized the importance of this approach. He stated that it ensures crime does not remain economically rewarding. By targeting the financial backbone of drug operations, police aim to deliver a lasting blow to trafficking networks in the region.
