Balasore: A road accident on National Highway 16 late on Monday inadvertently busted an alleged ganja smuggling operation in Odisha’s Balasore district, leading to the seizure of around 40 kg of the contraband valued at approximately Rs 10 lakh.
According to police sources, a cement-laden truck was parked near Chaparpada Square under the Soro police station limits when a delivery/parcel truck rammed into it from behind. The impact caused significant damage to the front of the delivery vehicle.
Alerted by locals who witnessed the crash, officers from Soro police station and highway patrolling team rushed to the spot. Upon inspecting the damaged delivery truck, they found 22 packets of ganja cleverly concealed near the driver and helper’s seats.
Both drivers fled the scene immediately after the accident, abandoning the vehicles on the highway.
Police have seized both the trucks. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and police have appealed for public information to trace the absconding drivers.
Investigations are underway to determine the source of the consignment, its intended destination, and any larger smuggling network involved.
