Balangir Police Bust Cannabis Smuggling Racket Concealed in Pickle Jars
Balangir Town Police have intercepted a major cannabis smuggling operation, seizing 36 kilograms of contraband cleverly hidden inside steel pickle cans.
The raid, conducted at a rented house in Udayanagar Pada, led to the arrest of two suspects from Kesinga and Puintala.
Investigators revealed that the cannabis was sourced from forest regions in Boudh and Kandhamal districts.
To evade detection, traffickers packed the substance into small pouches, concealed them in pickle jars, and stored them in large drums to mask odour during inter‑state transport.
Inspector Abani Kumar Sahu led the operation, with Sadar SDPO Saroj Upadhyay confirming that the consignment was intercepted before leaving Odisha.
Police are now interrogating the suspects to trace suppliers and buyers.
Authorities noted that smuggling syndicates in Western Odisha have been evolving their methods—previously using adhesive plasters on couriers or disguising consignments as textiles through e‑commerce networks.
This successful bust underscores both the ingenuity of traffickers and the vigilance of Balangir Police in combating narcotics networks.
