Gajapati: In a significant anti-narcotics operation, police in Odisha’s Gajapati district seized over two quintal cannabis that had been buried underground. 

As per reports, a joint raid was conducted in the forested area near Bhimanpur village under Kirama Gram Panchayat in Nuagada block. The team was led by SDPO R. Udayagiri, Rakesh Kumar Sahu after receiving specific intelligence. The operation involved personnel from R. Udayagiri Police Station and Chandragiri outpost.

Official sources said around the cannabis was recovered from beneath the soil, packed in 67 plastic sacks. The contraband was later weighed in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, confirming a total of 210 kilograms. Police estimates suggest the seized cannabis has a market value exceeding ₹2 crore. Investigations are ongoing to identify those involved in the operation.

Nearly 11 tonnes confiscated in recent raid

Officials further stated that nearly 11 tonnes of cannabis have been seized across Gajapati district in recent enforcement drives, underscoring the sheer scale of the illegal trade in the region. Despite intensified crackdowns and frequent raids, authorities remain concerned that large-scale cultivation and trafficking networks continue to operate. The raids also highlighted that traffickers are increasingly using innovative concealment techniques, such as burying cannabis underground in remote forest areas and near residential zones, to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies. This evolving modus operandi indicates a well-organized network attempting to stay ahead of police action, investigators noted.

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