Officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted a truck carrying 522 kg of ganja (Marijuana) on Sunday that was being transported to the Madhya Pradesh via Nagpur. The seizure was made near the Bhagimahari toll plaza, close to Saoner, during a surveillance operation. The truck, (MP-04/GB-3859), was stopped by the DRI team on suspicion. During a detailed search of the vehicle, officers found a large quantity of suspected ganja cleverly concealed under various goods. It was hidden beneath items such as coolers, fans, blankets, jackets, and other household materials to avoid detection.

 

After the seizure, the officials carried out a proper listing of the recovered material. On weighing, the total quantity of the ganja was found to be 522.138 kilograms. As per official estimates, the market value of the seized ganja is approximately Rs 2.61 crore. The recovered substance falls under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Preliminary investigation revealed that the ganja was being transported from Odisha and was meant to be delivered in Madhya Pradesh. The manner in which the contraband was concealed indicates an organised bid to smuggle narcotics across State borders using commercial transport vehicles. The DRI has taken custody of the seized ganja as well as the truck used for transportation.

 

Further legal action is being initiated under relevant sections of the NDPS Act. The driver and others involved are likely to be questioned to trace the larger network behind the smuggling operation. Senior DRI officials said, the investigation is now focused on identifying the source of such a large quantity of ganja in Odisha. Efforts are also being made to find out who financed the deal and who the intended recipients were in Madhya Pradesh. The officials suspect the involvement of an inter-state drug trafficking racket.