Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): With source of majority of marijuana seized in Bhopal traced to Odisha, the Crime Branch is keeping a strict eye on suspicious vehicles arriving from those routes. The smugglers are using different modus operandi to smuggle ganja from Odisha which they sell in Bhopal in smaller quantities through dealers and peddlers.
Police officials said that majority of marijuana smugglers during questioning confessed bringing it from Odisha. They were in contact with local farmers and ganja cultivators and book their consignments before they reach Malkangiri of Odisha which has emerged as the biggest source of marijuana across many states.
Kalimela region of Malkangiri has vast inaccessible terrains where local tribal communities grow marijuana in forest areas. However, lured of hefty cash, marijuana plants are now also grown on fertile fields hidden between other crops.
Despite, regular drive Odisha police has not achieved much success in curbing marijuana cultivation due to interference of Maoists groups who take their share of profits from cultivators in return of providing protection to them. ACP (crime branch) Mukhtar Qureshi said there is no big organised gang found involved in marijuana smuggling in Bhopal.
However, local marijuana smugglers buy it from farmers in Odisha at a cheaper rate and sell it to dealers and peddlers in smaller quantities to earn cash.
Under the ongoing drive against them, the crime branch is keeping an eye on activities of persons having past records of marijuana smuggling. Many of them have been arrested with marijuana worth several lakhs of rupees during the past three days, he added.
Scheme vehicles used
Besides using trains to smuggle marijuana, specially modified vehicles known as ‘scheme vehicles’ are often used in smuggling it from Odisha. Special cavities and boxes are made in such vehicles to hide marijuana packets.
In September last year, the crime branch arrested two persons with a traveller vehicle in which over 4 kilogram of marijuana was hidden in a specially designed cavity on the roof of the vehicle. In August 2023, cops nabbed notorious smuggler Rais Radio with a large consignment of marijuana hidden in specially designed boxes under the seat of his car.
