BHAWANIPATNA : Huge quantity of ganja, valued at more than Rs 1 crore, was seized by Excise officials from Kalahandi district. The ganja, weighing over 37 quintals, was seized after residents of Deypur village, about 10 km from here, detained a truck carrying the contraband on Friday evening.
The loaded truck, with registration number of Uttar Pradesh, was detained by villagers after the vehicle hit an SUV near Deypur on NH-59.
The driver and helper of the truck managed to escape. Villagers informed the police and Excise officials as a strong odour was emanating from the truck.
The truck was brought to Excise office at Bhawanipatna and during search, as many as 129 bags containing ganja were found kept along with bags of ginger and onion in the truck.
Excise sub-inspector Pramod Kumar Banua said the owner of the truck belongs to Nainigaon of Allahabad. The driver and helper of the truck are absconding and efforts are on to nab them. The truck had come from Rayagada.