Balasore, May 12: More than 40 kilograms of ganja were seized after a delivery van rammed into a stationary cement-laden truck near Chaparpada on National Highway-16 under Soro Police Station limits in Balasore district, a source said Tuesday.

The accident reportedly exposed an alleged ganja smuggling operation being carried out under the cover of a reputed delivery company’s parcel vehicle.

According to the source, the delivery van crashed into the parked cement-loaded truck near Chaparpada on NH-16 late at night.

Following the collision, several packets of suspected ganja were found near the driver’s and helper’s seats inside the parcel delivery vehicle.

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Before police could reach the spot, both the driver and helper of the delivery van allegedly fled, abandoning the vehicle.

On receiving information, Soro police reached the scene and seized over 40 kg of ganja from the vehicle.

Police suspect the contraband was being smuggled by misusing the parcel transport network to evade law enforcement scrutiny.

An investigation has been launched to trace the absconding driver and helper and uncover the wider smuggling network behind the illegal transportation of ganja.

According to the Crime in India-2024 report released by the National Crime Records Bureau, as many as 2,098 cases related to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, were recorded in Odisha in 2024. Of these, 110 cases were related to possession of drugs for personal use or consumption, while 1,988 cases were linked to possession of drugs for trafficking.