Smuggling / Trolley bags replace trucks as ganja smugglers change tactics in Balangir

Balangir, Nov 5: Despite repeated seizures and arrests, the illegal cannabis trade continues to thrive in Odisha's Balangir district, with traffickers adopting new methods to evade law enforcement.

While police, excise officials and railway authorities are regularly intercepting consignments, the masterminds behind the multi-state smuggling network remain out of reach.

Strategically located in western Odisha and well connected by road and rail, Balangir has increasingly emerged as a transit point for cannabis trafficking.

Investigators say consignments originating from districts such as Kandhamal and Kalahandi are transported through the region before being shipped to destinations including Bihar, Delhi and other states.

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What has particularly caught the attention of enforcement agencies is the changing modus operandi of smugglers. While ganja was previously transported in vehicles, traffickers are now reportedly concealing the contraband in trolley bags, making it harder to distinguish from ordinary passenger luggage at railway stations and transport hubs.

Law enforcement agencies have intensified surveillance across key locations including Balangir, Titlagarh, Saintala and Tushura. Officials suspect that large quantities of cannabis are being moved through these routes regularly.

In a recent operation, police seized 46 kg of ganja from the Saintala area, highlighting the scale of the illegal trade.

Although carriers and transporters are frequently being arrested, questions remain over the identities of the principal operators financing and directing the network. Investigators are yet to determine who controls the supply chain, where the consignments are ultimately routed and who benefits financially from the illicit business.

Authorities from the police, excise department and Government Railway Police (GRP) continue conducting inspections and crackdowns, but the recurring seizures suggest that the network remains active and well-organised.