Strange Deception Bid Foiled: Police Bust Clever Ganja Smuggling Racket On NH-26

Bhubaneswar: In a bust that reads like the plot of a crime thriller, Odisha’s Saintala police on Monday stumbled upon one of the most ingenious—and audacious—methods of ganja smuggling yet.

At first glance, the cargo seemed harmless enough: neat bundles of paper rolls, stacked and ready for delivery. But a closer inspection revealed the ruse—each “roll” was, in fact, a carefully crafted disguise, tightly packed with dry cannabis.

The operation unfolded along National Highway 26 near Baragaon after police received a tip-off about an impending narcotics run. Setting up a strategic checkpoint, the officers flagged down a suspicious vehicle. What followed was a discovery that left even seasoned investigators raising their eyebrows—over one quintal of ganja hidden in plain sight.

The accused, identified as Sanjeev Kumar Mishra of Sonepur and Devanta Karna of Boudh district, were promptly arrested and produced before the court.

This isn’t the first time Odisha police have caught smugglers trying to outwit the law with creative concealment. Back in April, the police had intercepted a truck in Bhubaneswar’s Khandagiri area, seizing a massive haul of ganja during a sting operation while a deal was allegedly in progress. The ganja was packed in gunny bags, and it was being smuggled from Phulbani in Kandhamal district to Himachal Pradesh. The cost of the entire ganja consignment was then estimated to be around Rs 1 crore.

The Odisha police have intensified their operations against drug peddling activities across the state, following rising concerns about the increasing supply and consumption of narcotics. Several checkpoints have been established at entry and exit points around Bhubaneswar and other major cities and towns to monitor suspicious movements, and random vehicle checks have been intensified.