12 quintal cannabis worth Rs 1.8 cr seized

BHUBANESWAR: The Revenue Intelligence sleuths seized 12 quintals of cannabis after intercepting a container truck near Khandagiri Square on Thursday. The cannabis, estimated at Rs 1.8 crore in the open market, was being smuggled from Ichchapuram in Andhra Pradesh to Patna via Bhubaneswar. “The contraband is sold at Rs 15,000 per kg. It was concealed under heaps of clothes and cashews packets besides other food items. The Revenue officials have detained a man and a minor boy, both natives of Bihar and interrogation is on.

“A case under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act has been registered and investigation is on,” an officer added.On April 4, the city police had checked a major cannabis haul by arresting two persons from different locations of the Capital and recovered more than 2 quintals of the contraband from them worth over Rs 15 lakh. Acting on a tip-off, Khandagiri police and Quick Action Team (QAT) personnel intercepted a sedan near Bharatpur and recovered over 1.5 quintal cannabis stashed in gunny sacks. The police managed to nab the driver of the four-wheeler and he has been identified as Surjyakant Mansingh of Begunia.

Khandagiri police also intercepted a man on April 4 while patrolling in Baramunda area and recovered a gunny sack from him containing cannabis. Police informed that the total seizure from both the persons was more than 2 quintals. Police sources pointed that the cops either receive an information from the place where the contraband is procured or they receive information from the place where the consignment is supposed to be delivered.

“Cannabis cultivation is being done in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Kandhamal,Rayagada, Gajapati district and Malkangiri districts of the State, among others. The buyers purchase the contraband basing on their personal equation with the traders. The buyers of a particular State also purchase cannabis from other States as they know the traders there and are confident that the information about the transportation will not be leaked,” a policeman said.