6 arrested in Berhampur for smuggling 55 kg of ganja from Kandhamal

Berhampur: Acting on a tip-off, the excise department’s intelligence and enforcement bureau wing arrested six persons from different places on Thursday for allegedly smuggling ganja from Kandhamal district to Bihar and West Bengal.Those arrested were identified as Alam Mondal (39) and Nowser Mondal (24) from North 24 Parganas, West Bengal; Rahul Kumar (21) from Rohtas, Bihar; Mohit Mallick (28) of Jangangia, Dinesh Pradhan (31) of Daringbadi, and Papu Bira (30) of Sorada in Ganjam district.Officials seized three cars, a motorcycle, eight mobile phones and about 55 kg of ganja at Sanaghati and Haridamula under Khallikote police station limits. “The total value of the seized items is estimated to be Rs 40 lakh,” said Srutikant Rout, deputy superintendent of the excise intelligence and enforcement bureau.The first raid took place early Thursday at Sanaghati, where Rahul was caught receiving 25 kg of ganja from Dinesh and Papu, who had transported the contraband in a car. The excise team apprehended them on the spot and seized two vehicles. In a second operation at Haridamula, another vehicle carrying 30 kg of ganja was intercepted and seized.Officials suspect that the gang was using Berhampur as a transit point to smuggle drugs from Kandhamal to Bihar and West Bengal, possibly via train. “We are verifying their involvement in previous drug trafficking cases. Further investigation is underway to identify others linked to this smuggling network,” Rout said.