STF Seizes Rs 3-Crore Properties Of Ganja Traders In Odisha’s Ganjam

Bhubaneswar: The STF of Odisha Crime Branch has seized properties worth more than Rs 3 crore, illegally acquired from narcotics trade, by two persons in Ganjam district.

The STF had seized 106 kg of ganja, 517 gram of opium and incriminating materials from the possession of the two persons, identified as Banamali Pradhan and Arun Kumar Pradhan of Raghunathsahi under Buguda police station, during a raid on April 29.

After confirming that Banamali and Arun had acquired the properties from ill-gotten money through narcotics trade, the STF seized their properties. There is a provision of seizure and forfeiture of property (illegally acquired from narcotics business in six years) under chapter VA of NDPS Act (Section A- Z), an STF release stated.

The seized properties include five commercial buildings situated at Buguda, 8 landed properties, deposits in 19 accounts of different banks, 2 vehicles and gold and silver ornaments weighing 595 gram and 190 gram respectively. The buildings have been evaluated by PWD R&B, Buguda.

A detailed proposal for confirmation of seizure of the properties of the accused, earned out of ganja and opium business,  has been sent to the Competent Authority, Kolkata, which is a quasi-judicial authority under NDPS Act, with a request for forfeiture.

It may be noted that the accused persons were earlier booked in similar cases by Excise officials.