Interstate ganja gang busted in ASR district

VISAKHAPATNAM: The police of Chintapalli in Alluri Sitarama Raju district have busted an interstate gang of ganja smugglers, seizing approximately 1700 kg of Ganja worth around Rs 3 crores. Three accused were arrested, and efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining absconding accused.
According to police sources, the gang comprises members from Maharashtra, Odisha, and AP was smuggling ganja under the cover of broken rice bags, using fake waybills to avoid police check posts.
The Additional SP Kommi Pratap Siva Kishore told TOI that following the destruction of ganja crops in the entire agency area by the AP Police, the gang shifted their cultivation to Odisha's Malkangiri and Koraput. Jodiyaput's Khemudu Sitaram and another absconding accused cultivated ganja in their village.
The Maharashtra kingpin and owner of the vehicle used for transport, placed orders for moving the ganjafrom Odisha through Chitrakonda forests to the Dharakonda outskirts of the ASR district through laborers carrying it on their heads.
Police also seized mobile phones, a Tata truck, a bike, and fake waybills. The ASR district additional SP (administration) Tuhin Sinha appreciated the efforts of Chintapalli subdivision team.