Sonpur: Excise officials in Subarnapur district seized 368 kg of ganja in three separate raids and arrested seven people allegedly involved in transporting the contraband from Boudh district to Jharkhand.
The seized ganja, packed in 15 large sacks, was valued at more than Rs 3 crore, district Excise Superintendent Prabir Kumar Samal said. Three vehicles allegedly used for transporting the contraband were also seized. The accused were produced in court Tuesday.
The district mobile unit intercepted a black Mahindra XUV500 without a registration number near Phulchara Square under Birmaharajpur police limits and recovered 160 kg of ganja concealed beneath the rear seats. Tarini Mahato, 28, and Manson Orang, 26, both from Sundaragada district, were arrested. In a separate raid near Budharaja Square in Sonpur, officials searched a red Mahindra Scorpio travelling from Manamunda in Boudh and recovered 88 kg of ganja.
Ajit Samad, 42, and Chornhas Minz, 31, both from Simdega district in Jharkhand, were arrested. Near Udepada under Ulunda police limits, officials seized 60 kg of ganja from a Maruti Suzuki XL6 and arrested driver Benas Gari, 33, Rahul Kumar Mandal, 25, and Jiten Tirkey, 22. Three separate cases were registered under the NDPS Act.
