In the tribal-dominated Gajapati district of Odisha, ganja traffickers have resorted to destroying their stockpiles as police intensify a crackdown on illegal drug trade. The contraband is being burnt or dumped into ponds and wells to avoid seizure during raids.
Destruction of Contraband
According to SDPO (R Udayagiri) Rakesh Sahoo, large quantities of burnt ganja were discovered during raids in a remote village under Kirima panchayat within R Udayagiri police station limits. In several instances, traffickers had dumped ganja into village ponds and wells. Police have also recovered ganja buried in pits and concealed in hilltop areas. However, consignments dumped in deep wells could not be retrieved. Sahoo stated, "Smugglers are adopting these methods to avoid arrest."
Massive Seizures in Anti-Narcotics Drive
Under a special anti-narcotics drive, primarily in Adava and R Udayagiri police station areas, police have seized over 21 tonnes of ganja in the past four months — the highest ever recorded in the district. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth approximately Rs 21 crore. Sahoo reported that around 20 raids were conducted in key trafficking pockets, including Kirima, Sambalpur, Kesariguda, Raipanaka, and adjoining panchayats. Seven persons have been arrested, while about 12 suspects managed to flee during the operations.
Shift in Storage Tactics
Earlier, traffickers stored ganja in houses for transportation. With frequent police raids, they have shifted to forest dumps, hilltops, intermontane valleys, underground pits, and temporary thatched structures. Police claimed that sustained operations have nearly halted illegal transportation in the area over the past few months. Based on intelligence inputs, teams led by the SDPO have been conducting regular raids in remote pockets.
Police have affirmed that the crackdown on illegal storage and trafficking will continue unabated.
