MALKANGIRI: In a first-of-its-kind haul in the state, police on Sunday seized around 60 kg of hashish or hash oil worth around Rs 8 crore from Essar Chowk forest area of Malkangiri district. The highly potent narcotic substance derived from ganja plant was allegedly being smuggled from Andhra Pradesh to outside states through Malkangiri route.
According to Malkangiri SP Vinodh Patil, the operation was conducted around 11 am after sub-inspector Limai Charan Panda and his patrolling team received credible information that a group of suspected smugglers from Andhra Pradesh were waiting near the Essar Chowk forest area to transport contraband using motorcycles.
Acting swiftly, the police team reached the spot to verify the input. However, on spotting the police vehicle and uniformed personnel, the accused fled into the dense forest, abandoning a white plastic sack containing the contraband along with eight motorcycles.
“The seized substance emitted a strong cannabis odour and on verification was found to be hash oil. The market value of the seized hash oil is estimated to be around Rs 8 crore. The contraband was seized following due legal procedure in the presence of a magistrate,” Patil said.
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act, and further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the accused. Patil said that surveillance and patrolling along the Malkangiri–Andhra Pradesh border have been further intensified to curb illicit drug trafficking.
Police sources said hashish oil is a highly concentrated form of cannabis containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound responsible for its potent effects. One litre of hashish oil is produced from around 40 kg of raw cannabis, making it significantly more valuable than traditional marijuana products.
