In a major success, the Crime Branch of the city police has busted an interstate drug trafficking network and seized more than 150 kg of ganja worth around Rs 1.49 crore. The contraband was cleverly hidden beneath heavy steel coils in a truck travelling from Odisha. The Social Security Branch (SSB) of the Crime Branch arrested two accused identified as Jogesh Dharmodhar Devuri (30) and Mahendra Irda Devuri (40), both residents of Angol in Odisha. They were working as the truck driver and conductor. According to police, they had been tracking the smuggling racket for nearly two months based on confidential inputs.

 

The gang was allegedly transporting ganja from Odisha to Mumbai through Nagpur while attempting to avoid surveillance. Acting on specific intelligence, the Crime Branch team set up a blockade on the Outer Ring Road near Joginder Singh Dhaba at around 4 am on Tuesday. A truck (OD-34/H-4489) was intercepted and searched. At first glance, the vehicle appeared to be carrying only industrial cargo, as it was loaded with about 21.260 tonnes of steel coils. However, a detailed inspection led to the discovery of 150.520 kg of ganja concealed behind the coils. Police seized the ganja, steel coils, two mobile phones and other materials from the truck. Investigators revealed that the accused used sophisticated methods to avoid detection.

 

They reportedly switched off their mobile phones nearly 200 km before reaching Nagpur and turned them on only after crossing the city limits, making electronic tracking difficult. The truck was officially carrying steel coils to Gujarat, but the ganja consignment was allegedly meant for delivery in Mumbai. Police said the accused were to receive the contact details of the recipient only after reaching the city. The contraband was allegedly dispatched by Baba Behera of Cuttack and Vishnu Pradhan of Dakwamunda in Odisha. Police said a team will soon travel to Odisha to arrest the suspected suppliers. The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP (Detection) Deepak Agrawal and senior Crime Branch officers by a team led by PI Darshan Patil and API Shivaji Nanware, along with several police personnel. Further investigation is underway.