Phulbani, Feb 2: Police seized a coconut-laden truck carrying a large quantity of illegal cannabis during a night patrol in Odisha’s Kandhamal district, a source said Monday.

According to the source, the cannabis was being transported using a new concealment method, hidden inside a truck carrying coconuts. The seizure was made by cops from Barakhama police outpost, which functions under the jurisdiction of the Baliguda police station.

The source informed that a special police team from the Barakhama police outpost was conducting routine night patrolling when it noticed a coconut-laden truck moving at high speed through the Barakhama area. The behaviour of the vehicle raised suspicion, prompting the police team to signal the truck to stop for inspection. However, the driver failed to comply and continued driving at high speed.

The patrol team chased the truck as it moved through the area. The pursuit ended near Sudra panchayat, where the driver and another person involved in transporting the consignment abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Both managed to escape before police could detain them, the source added.

Following the abandonment of the truck, police conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered 191 kilograms of cannabis concealed within the coconut load. The truck, which was registered in West Bengal, along with the seized contraband, was taken into police custody.

Barakhama outpost officer Bahubali Amarendra Subuddhi said the estimated market value of the seized cannabis was around Rs 10 lakh. He said preliminary information suggested that the cannabis was being transported from the Baliguda area towards West Bengal.

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A case has been registered in connection with the seizure, and further investigation is underway to identify those involved in the illegal transportation.