Bhawanipatna: In a major crackdown on inter-state narcotics trafficking, the Odisha Excise Department busted a drug smuggling attempt with the seizure of 400 kg of ganja from a courier facility at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi district.
The contraband, packed inside 32 foam fish crates, was allegedly being transported to Uttar Pradesh.
Officials revealed that the delivery address listed on the parcel corresponded to the official residence of an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr, though neither the judge’s name nor any sender contact details appeared on the consignment.
Investigators believe the smugglers deliberately chose the high-profile judicial address and the unusual fish-crate packaging to mask the characteristic odour of cannabis and reduce the likelihood of scrutiny during transit and handling by courier staff.
While the absence of sender particulars has complicated efforts to trace the origin of the shipment, this high-value seizure highlights an alarming shift toward courier networks, falsified credentials, and deceptive packaging techniques among narcotics networks operating out of Odisha.
Local police alongside excise units have launched an extensive probe, tracking courier logs, digital transaction trails, and surveillance footage to identify those behind the network and determine the source of the cannabis.
