Odisha STF Arrests Inter‑State Ganja Smuggling Kingpin Ratan Mondal

In a major breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, Odisha Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Ratan Mondal, the alleged mastermind behind an inter‑state ganja smuggling network.

Mondal was apprehended in East Medinipur, West Bengal, after a 25‑day surveillance operation.

Mondal had been absconding since January 2025 and was identified as a key receiver of ganja smuggled from Kandhamal, Boudh, and Sonepur districts.

His network concealed consignments in coal, fish feed, and vegetables, transporting them via trucks, tankers, couriers, and trains.

National Highways 26 and 16 served as major trafficking routes, with narcotics reaching states including West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala.

Authorities described the arrest as a significant step in Odisha’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking.

Mondal will now face trial and imprisonment, reinforcing the state’s commitment to dismantling organised narcotics networks.