In another crackdown on drug trafficking in the State Capital, Mancheswar Police dismantled a professional ganja smuggling syndicate on Thursday, arresting seven individuals and seizing over 52 kg of contraband.
Acting on a credible intelligence input this morning, Mancheswar Police learned that five youths were transporting a massive consignment of ganja from Kandhamal to Bhubaneswar in a white Honda City car. The intelligence further revealed that two local handlers, identified as Kishan and Prakash, were waiting near ‘Rosy Villa’ in Prachi Vihar, Rasulgarh, to receive the shipment for local distribution.
A police team laid a targeted trap near the designated spot. At approximately 9:45 AM, the suspect vehicle arrived at the location. As officers moved in to surround the car, the suspects attempted to flee but were swiftly overpowered and detained.
In the presence of the ACP, Zone-5, officers searched the vehicle’s trunk, recovering two large plastic sacks containing 52.600 kg of contraband ganja. Along with the illicit drug, police seized the car used for transportation and three mobile phones from the accused.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Pruthiraj Khatua alias Kishan (22), Priyabrata Khatua alias Nandu (21), Jubaraj Khatua alias Situnu (20), and Dayashankar Jena (24)—all residents of Rasulgarh; Chandan Prusty (26) and Prakash Sethy (27) from Kataka; and Manoj Bhanja (25) from Pahala.
A case has been registered under Section 20(b)(ii)(C) of the NDPS Act, 1985 (Case No. 710/2026). All seven accused were produced before the court on Thursday afternoon with a request for 14-day police remand. Further investigation is underway to trace the broader network.
