In a major breakthrough, the Malkangiri Police have seized 60 liters of hash oil, also known as liquid cannabis, from the Chitrakonda Swabhiman area, marking the first such recovery in Odisha.
Malkangiri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinod Patil, during a press briefing, informed that the contraband is valued at approximately Rs 8 crore.
According to police, a routine day patrol team from the Chitrakonda police station was on duty when they received credible intelligence around 11:30 AM. The tip-off indicated that eight individuals had gathered with their motorcycles near the Esar Chowk Sal tree forest, awaiting to transport illegal liquid ganja or hash oil to a contact in Andhra Pradesh.
Led by Sub-Inspector Limai Charan Panda, the police team immediately rushed to the spot to verify the information. Upon spotting the cops approaching, the eight suspects abandoned their motorcycles and a white plastic bag containing the suspicious contraband before fleeing into the dense forest. Despite a chase by the patrol team, the suspects managed to escape, taking advantage of the thick jungle terrain.
A thorough search of the site led to the recovery of the abandoned white plastic bag filled with the illicit substance and the eight motorcycles. The seizure process was conducted in accordance with standard procedures. In connection with this incident, a case has been registered at Chitrakonda Police Station as Case No. 213/2025, dated November 2, 2025, under Sections 20(b)(ii)(c), 25, and 29 of the NDPS Act. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the fugitives.
SP Binod Patil highlighted the significance of this operation, emphasising the police’s commitment to curbing drug trafficking in the region. SDPO Pradosh Pradhan and Additional SP Rashmi Ranjan Senapati attended the briefing.
This seizure underscores the growing challenge of narcotics smuggling in border areas like Malkangiri, which shares boundaries with Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, often exploited by traffickers.
