The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch seized eight quintals of ganja from a truck on the outskirts of the city and arrested two persons in this connection on Wednesday. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is more than Rs 50 lakh. Following intelligence inputs, a STF team conducted the raid and intercepted the truck on National Highway-16 near Pitapali.
During a search of the truck which was carrying snack items, the contraband was found concealed in a secret chamber of the vehicle. The driver and the helper of the truck were arrested from the spot as they couldn’t produce any valid authority in support of possession of the contraband.
The STF has registered a case and further investigation was ongoing. This is the second incident of this kind recently in which such a huge quantity of ganja was seized by the STF while being trafficked.
On June 4, the agency had detected an inter-State narcotics trafficking racket and seized more than one tonne (1000+ kg) near Tomando while being transported from Koraput to Jharkhand and Bihar. One accused was arrested in connection with the incident.