In a major breakthrough, the Government Railway Police (GRP) have tracked down and dismantled an entire inter-state ganja smuggling network operating from a Naxal-affected area of Odisha to Delhi. The police have arrested the ganja supplier, trafficker, and sellers during the operation, spanning across Odisha, Bihar, and Delhi. A police official stated that three ganja smugglers from Bihar were arrested in connection with the seizure of 16 kg of ganja (Marijuana) worth Rs 2.32 lakh from the Andhra Pradesh Express in November last year. The accused have been identified as ganja trafficker Rahul Kumar Anil Rai (30), a resident of Vaishali district of Bihar; ganja supplier Bhagwan Khara Padalam Khara (35), a resident of Koraput district of Odisha; and ganja seller Chanda Chouhan Rambahaj Chouhan (22), a resident of Chandan Vihar, Delhi.

 

According to the police, the gang operated across the country, supplying ganja to Nigerian nationals based in Delhi. They opted for the rail route to transport the ganja. The ganja was purchased from Odisha, a Naxal-affected area, and then sold in Delhi at high rates which generated significant profits through the illegal business. PSI Pravin Bhimte, the Investigation Officer of the case, conducted a thorough investigation for almost four months after the recovery of ganja from the train and identified the culprits. The police received support from the Border Security Force to arrest Bhagwan Khara from the Naxal-affected Koraput district of Odisha. Under the guidance of Supertiendent of Police (SP) Dr Akshay Shinde, SDPO Pandurang Sonwane, the arrest was made by PI Vikash Kanpillewar, PSI Pravin Bhimte, and staff including Namdeo Sahare, Shrikant Ghate, Rajesh Pali, Nitin Shende, Avin Gajwae, Chandrashekhar Madnakar, Pankaj Bante, Rahul Yawle, Mangesh Titarmare and others.