Baripada: In a major crackdown on drugs smuggling, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized 23 sacks containing marijuana while being smuggled along with loads of cabbage in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a special squad of NCB squad tracked a pickup van carrying vegetables, which was allegedly transporting cannabis hidden under cabbage crates to evade detection during peak vegetable movement h
ours. An SUV was escorting the consignment to ensure smooth transit.
After a long chase, the NCB team intercepted the vehicles near Nuasahi Bharada Chowk under the jurisdiction of Kaptipada police station. During the search, the team members recovered 23 sacks containing ganja concealed under the vegetable load in the pickup van. The escort vehicle was also detained.
Five persons have been detained in connection with the seizure, while two others managed to flee the spot. Those detained are being interrogated.
Preliminary investigation indicated that the consignment was being transported from Keonjhar to Baripada via Kaptipada.
The NCB has launched a manhunt to trace the two accused who escaped during the operation. They are also probing possible links to an interstate drug trafficking network. Further investigation is in progress.