Acting on a tip-off, Kalimela police seized 300 kgs of contraband ganja hidden in a forest near Venkatapallam village in Malkangiri district.
Upon receiving information about stashed cannabis, a police team launched a search operation in the forested area near Venkatapalam. The contraband was measured on-site in the presence of Kalimela Additional Tehsildar Rajeev Kumar Behera, who acted as the magistrate, along with independent witnesses.
However, the drug traffickers managed to escape before the police team arrived, having received prior warning of law enforcement movements. Police sources suspect that inter-state smuggling networks from neighbouring states were involved in hoarding the illicit consignment.
Kalimela Inspector-in-Charge (IIC) Prabhudatta Biswal confirmed that a case (Case No. 241, dated 03/10/2026) has been registered under Section 20(b)(ii) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The raid team was led by Sub-Inspector Prashant Sabat, along with accompanying police personnel. Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
