IN A major crackdown on interstate narcotics trafficking, Konta Police of the district have arrested three alleged drug smugglers and seized 223.020 kg of cannabis being transported from Odisha to Rajasthan. The contraband, concealed in 110 packets inside a Creta SUV fitted with fake registration plates, was allegedly being ferried from Malkangiri (Odisha) to Bhilwada (Rajasthan) through Chhattisgarh. Police seized the vehicle, three mobile phones, cash and other materials used in the offence, taking the total value of the seizure to an estimated Rs 1,27,26,600. According to police, acting on a tip-off received at around 2 am last night, a team set up a checkpoint at Krishna Mandir Chowk in Dhondhra after receiving information that a white Creta SUV carrying a large quantity of cannabis was travelling from Malkangiri towards Rajasthan via Konta. The vehicle was intercepted during the operation, and a search led to the recovery of 223.020 kg of cannabis packed in 110 packets. The seized contraband has an estimated illicit market value of Rs 1,11,50,000.

 

The three occupants of the vehicle were identified as Durga Shankar Kharol (19), Manish Kharol (21) and Ramdev Kharol (23), all residents of Bhilwada district in Rajasthan. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that they had procured the cannabis from Malkangiri and were transporting it to Rajasthan for sale at a higher price. During verification, investigators grew suspicious of the vehicle’s registration plate. Checks of the engine and chassis numbers revealed that the SUV was displaying a fake Odisha registration number, while its actual registration belonged to Rajasthan. Police suspect the forged number plates were used to avoid detection during interstate transportation. A case has been registered at Konta Police Station under Sections 20(b)(ii)(C), 29 and other relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Police have launched further investigations to trace the source of the cannabis, identify the supply chain and uncover other members of the interstate trafficking network. The operation was carried out under the direction of Superintendent of Police Mayank Gurjar, with guidance from Additional Superintendents of Police Rohit Shah and Manoj Tirkey and SDOP Prashant Dewangan.