In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Baipariguda Police successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of ganja by concealing it beneath vegetable trays in a pickup van.

Acting on reliable intelligence, police received information that a pickup van bearing registration number OD 30 8440 was transporting ganja from the Govindpalli area of Malkangiri district towards Baipariguda. Following the tip-off, a special team was formed under the direction of Baipariguda IIC Dambaru Dhar Batriah. The team, led by Dhirendra Barik, launched a patrol operation and intercepted the suspicious vehicle near Kamidipadar Chhak.

Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered ganja hidden beneath empty vegetable trays loaded at the front of the van. The accused had attempted to mislead authorities by disguising the consignment as a regular goods transport vehicle.

Two individuals — Daniel Harijan of MV-90 village under Kalimela police limits and Ramesh Bag of Ashirbad Colony in Malkangiri — were arrested at the spot. The pickup van was seized and brought to the police station for further examination.

During weighing, the confiscated ganja was found to be 7 quintals and 63 kilograms. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is reported to be over ₹5 crore. Preliminary investigation suggests that the consignment was intended to be smuggled into Andhra Pradesh.

Both accused have been forwarded to court, and further investigation is underway to trace possible links in the interstate drug network.