Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 23: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized 702 kg of ganja concealed inside a truck carrying grocery items and arrested two persons in a major crackdown on an interstate narcotics network linked to Goa.

According to officials, the NCB’s Mumbai unit intercepted a Maharashtra-registered truck and arrested the accused, identified as Prakash MD and Padamlal NM, from Gondia.

During the search operation, officials recovered 702 kg of ganja packed in 100 packets and allegedly hidden among legitimate cargo such as detergent, toothpaste and hair dye to avoid suspicion.

Investigators said the contraband had originated from Odisha, considered a major hub for illegal ganja supply, and was being transported to various drug syndicates operating in Maharashtra.

According to the agency, the consignment was intended for distribution in cities including Nagpur, Gondia, Pune and Mumbai before being supplied to local drug peddlers and consumers in Maharashtra and Goa.

NCB officials said the accused had allegedly been regularly transporting large quantities of ganja from Odisha to Maharashtra and that multiple syndicates had collaborated to move the narcotics in a single large shipment instead of smaller consignments.

The agency added that further investigation is underway to trace the Goa connection and identify members of the local supply network.

Officials also noted that this was the second major ganja seizure linked to the Odisha-Maharashtra route in recent months.

Earlier on April 11, the NCB had seized 210 kg of ganja concealed among metal sheets and arrested four persons in a similar operation.