In a major crackdown on inter-state narcotics smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has busted a drug trafficking syndicate and seized 522.554 kg of cannabis (ganja) worth approximately Rs 2.61 crore. The contraband was found hidden inside a sophisticated, specially-built secret cavity within a truck. Acting on precise intelligence about drug movement along the Odisha–Central India corridor, DRI officers from the Nagpur Regional Unit set up a surveillance web on National Highway-53.

 

They successfully intercepted the suspected truck at the Mathni Toll Plaza near Mouda. While the truck appeared normal from the outside, a thorough inspection by the DRI team revealed that the vehicle had been heavily modified to evade law enforcement. Smugglers had constructed a custom secret cavity located directly above the driver’s and passenger’s seats, as well as a hidden compartment behind the driver’s seat. Additionally, contraband was packed into a locked toolbox beneath the cargo area and stored on top of the driver’s cabin. From these hidden spaces, officers recovered 8 HDPE bags containing 247 packages of cannabis, all tightly wrapped in khaki-coloured plastic tape to mask the scent.

 

The DRI seized 522 kg of ganja, valued at Rs 2.61 crore, along with the truck, which is valued at Rs 8.5 lakh. The entire operation was conducted under the strict provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Two individuals travelling in the truck were arrested on the spot for their involvement in the syndicate. An official said that the use of custom-built secret cavities is a common tactic for long-distance smuggling, but rigorous intelligence mapping helped us pinpoint the exact vehicle. Earlier this year, the same DRI unit conducted two connected operations, seizing over 1,250 kg of ganja worth Rs 6.25 crore and arresting four key persons, including the syndicate’s mastermind. Further investigations are underway to trace the local distributors.