The Odisha Police have marked another major victory in their ongoing "Green Clean Mission" to eradicate illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking. On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, a specialized team led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of R. Udayagiri, Rakesh Sahoo, conducted a massive raid in Buripadara village. The operation resulted in the seizure of a staggering 1.83 tonnes of ganja, with an estimated market value of ₹2 crore.
Modus Operandi: Hidden in Plain Sight
The raid revealed the sophisticated and localized nature of the storage network used by traffickers. Unlike centralized warehouses, the contraband was distributed throughout the village to evade detection. Police discovered plastic jerry bags packed with ganja in:
- Private residential houses
- Cow sheds
- Secluded backyard storage units
Acting on precise intelligence, the police team moved in early Wednesday morning. However, as the police vehicles approached the village, the accused individuals, including the primary handlers, utilized the difficult hilly terrain to flee into the surrounding dense forests.
A Growing Trend of Enforcement
This seizure is not an isolated event but part of an aggressive, district-wide strategy. This is the third major haul recorded by the Gajapati police in the last 10 days alone. Previous operations include:
- March 25, 2026: A record-breaking seizure of 4.06 tonnes of ganja (worth approximately ₹4 crore) in Keshariguda village.
- March 20, 2026: Recovery of 700 kg of ganja from Rajapur village.
In-charge SP (Gajapati) Saravana Vivek M. emphasized that while the suspects are currently at large, their identities have been confirmed. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and specialized units are combing the forest areas to secure arrests.
The Path to a Drug-Free Odisha by 2026
The Director General of Police (DGP) recently announced a state-wide special anti-drug drive that commenced on April 1, 2026. This initiative aims to completely eliminate narcotics from the state within the next three years. The focus remains heavily on districts like Gajapati, Kandhamal, and Koraput, which have historically been hubs for cannabis cultivation due to their remote geography.
Between January 2025 and early 2026, Odisha Police have already destroyed or seized cannabis worth an estimated ₹2,700 crore. These sustained operations are successfully dismantling the financial networks of traffickers and significantly reducing the influence of illegal trade in rural pockets.