Berhampur: Excise department officials seized 84 kg ganja from a car bearing stickers of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) during a special operation in Odisha’s Berhampur.
Acting on a tip-off, the excise intelligence officials intercepted the car in the city and found 84 kg cannabis during search of the vehicle. While the ganja was seized, five occupants of the car were taken into custody, officials said.
Sources said the vehicle carried stickers of the ruling BJD at two places. Investigation is underway into the ownership of the car and potential links to the illegal drug trade.
The seized cannabis was reportedly found meticulously hidden inside the car. The five occupants of the car, who have been detained for questioning, hail from Kandhamal district.
Investigation is underway and the five detainees are being interrogated to obtain detailed information about the consignment, Snehalata Nayak, DSP of Excise Intelligence Department, said.
While it is suspected that the ganja was being transported for distribution in Bhubaneswar, exact picture will be available after a thorough investigation.
Senior BJD leaders were not immediately available to comment on the development.
