Authorities seize assets belonging to leader of interstate marijuana smuggling operation.

According to sources, the police in Phulbani have made a major breakthrough in an interstate ganja smuggling case. They have confiscated properties worth more than Rs4 crore belonging to the main person involved and have also arrested another suspect. At a recent press conference held at the district police headquarters, SP Ramendra Prasad shared that a total of nine people have been arrested so far in connection with this case.

The latest individual to be apprehended is Rupesh Pradhan, who was taken into custody in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Rupesh, a resident of Khajurinala, Baliguda, is believed to have been working as the manager for the main accused, Dilip Gouda. Speaking to the media, Kandhamal SP Ramendra Prasad revealed that assets worth approximately Rs4 crore, which are linked to Dilip, have been identified and frozen.

This development comes after the incident that occurred on June 4, 2025, when the police intercepted a Mahindra Bolero MUV and discovered 91 kg of ganja being transported illegally. During the course of the investigation, the police were able to apprehend Dilip Gouda, a resident of Badagauda village, Kabisuryanagar, Ganjam district. Upon further questioning, it was revealed that he was the mastermind behind an interstate ganja trafficking network.

Initially, eight people were arrested, including five from Kandhamal, one from Rajasthan, and one from Gujarat. Further investigations uncovered that Rupesh was responsible for managing Dilip's financial operations, including bank accounts and vehicles used by the network. As a result, the police have frozen Rs16 lakh in bank accounts that are linked to Dilip, Rupesh, and other suspects.

Additionally, they have also seized and frozen land, houses, vehicles, and jewelry amounting to approximately Rs4 crore. The police also stated that the accused are facing similar charges related to narcotics in Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. This case has been widely reported by Orissa POST, which is Odisha's top English daily.

This is a significant achievement for the police in their efforts to combat illegal activities and uphold the law in the state.