Malkangiri: In a major crackdown on illegal drug operations, Malkangiri police have busted a mobile hashish oil manufacturing unit in the Chitrakonda area and seized materials estimated to be worth around ₹100 crore.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs received over the past few days, police had been tracking the movement of a suspected hashish oil production unit believed to be operating in the region. Continuous raids and heightened surveillance reportedly forced members of the syndicate to shift their setup frequently to evade detection.

The breakthrough came early Sunday morning when a police team led by SDPO Chitrakonda Pradosh Pradhan intercepted a vehicle near Essar Chhak under Chitrakonda police limits, on the road leading to the Sileru area. The operation was carried out under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police, Malkangiri.

During the raid, police recovered around 800 litres of chemical precursors and solvents that could have been used to produce an equal quantity of highly potent hashish oil. Officials said the estimated market value of the potential output stands at approximately ₹100 crore.

In addition, 50 kg of ganja and 2 litres of hashish oil were seized from the vehicle. A fully functional mobile manufacturing unit, including specialised extraction equipment, was also recovered.

Police also confiscated the vehicle used for transporting the materials. The vehicle, bearing an Andhra Pradesh registration, was found to have a falsified number plate.

However, the driver managed to escape into a nearby forest, taking advantage of the dense terrain.

Preliminary investigation suggests that a smuggling syndicate was planning to establish a hashish oil manufacturing unit in the Chitrakonda area but was unable to do so due to sustained police pressure.

To take the probe forward, the district police have formed multiple specialised teams to track down the absconding driver and identify other members of the syndicate. Efforts are also underway to verify the vehicle’s details and to investigate interstate links, including the source of raw materials and the intended destination of the contraband.

Police said further investigation is in progress.