The Malkangiri Police in Odisha achieved their biggest-ever success against drug trafficking, seizing ganja worth approximately Rs 17 crore within a mere 24 hours.
Under the leadership of Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinod Patil, three separate raids across the district uncovered a staggering 1,660 kg of the illicit substance, leading to the arrest of three alleged mafia members from Uttar Pradesh.
The operations unfolded across distinct locations in the rugged terrain of Malkangiri, a district notorious for its porous borders and ganja smuggling routes. At Chitrakonda, police intercepted 640 kg of ganja hidden in the dense jungle, where smugglers had stashed it to evade detection. In a similar vein, at Kalimela, 250 kg was recovered from a concealed spot in the forest, though the perpetrators managed to flee the scene upon sensing the raid.
The most dramatic bust occurred at Orkel (Balimela) police station, where officers employed an innovative tactic to ambush a container transporting 770 kg of ganja. Disguised and positioned strategically, the team pounced on the vehicle mid-transit, arresting three suspects identified as members of an Uttar Pradesh-based mafia syndicate. “These arrests mark a significant blow to inter-state smuggling networks exploiting our borders,” SP Patil stated, emphasising the coordinated intelligence that fueled the rapid response.
This 24-hour blitz not only netted the massive haul but also underscored the escalating war on drugs in Malkangiri. To date in 2025, the district has registered 109 cases, with police seizing 44 vehicles—including 31 two-wheelers and 13 four-wheelers—and apprehending 96 individuals. The total ganja confiscated this year stands at an impressive 28,897 kg, surpassing previous records.
For context, in 2024 alone, Malkangiri Police had seized 22,153 kg of ganja, impounded 60 vehicles, and arrested 147 suspects across various operations. SP Patil hailed the recent raids as the district’s “largest single-day record,” crediting the team’s “action mode” and unwavering commitment. Looking ahead, he vowed intensified crackdowns: “We will ramp up surveillance and operations to ensure no mafia escapes our net. Ganja smuggling will be rooted out from Malkangiri.”
These successes highlight the challenges and triumphs of policing in one of India’s most remote and forested districts, where ganja cultivation and trafficking thrive due to difficult terrain.
As the operations continue, local authorities remain on high alert, determined to safeguard the region from the scourge of narcotics.
