Sundargarh Town Police successfully dismantled a ganja smuggling operation involving an Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) bus. The conductor of the bus was found to be involved in the crime and was arrested along with three other individuals.
Police received a tip about ganja being transported using a public bus. Acting on this information, they intercepted an OSRTC bus traveling from Jeypore to Rourkela and confiscated 40 kilograms of ganja valued at approximately Rs 4 lakh.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the bus conductor played a key role in the smuggling operation. The conductor and three others were arrested and later presented in court.
The smugglers cleverly packed about 10 kg of ganja into trolley bags, disguising them as regular passenger luggage. They used a state-run OSRTC bus to avoid suspicion, posing as tourists.
Following this incident, authorities have increased their vigilance to prevent future ganja smuggling attempts. They are also monitoring new methods used by smugglers to transport cannabis within and outside the state.
Earlier this month, Odisha’s Director General of Police, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, instructed all police superintendents to launch a comprehensive crackdown on ganja cultivation by March 31. This effort aligns with the state government’s ‘Green Clean’ campaign, which aims to eradicate ganja cultivation in Odisha by 2026.
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