A Special NDPS Court in Bhubaneswar has handed down a 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to two drug traffickers, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The convicted individuals, Mangal Ram Mahato and Kumar Dili, residents of Dhanbad, were sentenced by the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, under Sections 20(b), 25, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The case, dating back to May 28, 2023, involved the apprehension of the two accused with 273.8 kg of ganja at Rasulgarh Chowk in Bhubaneswar by NCB officers. Further investigation revealed their participation in an inter-state smuggling operation, where the ganja was concealed in a specially designed cavity in the truck’s driver’s cabin.
Both accused were charge-sheeted in November 2023, and the truck used for transporting the contraband was confiscated. In a separate incident, the NCB secured the conviction of two drug traffickers in a 2023 Ahmedabad Alprazolam trafficking case, with Govind Suryavanshi Chamar and Shaikh Mohammad Idrish receiving nine years of rigorous imprisonment each, along with a Rs 1 lakh fine.
The convictions highlight the NCB’s dedication to dismantling organized drug trafficking networks that span state boundaries. The Bureau continues its efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking, urging citizens to report any narcotics-related information through the toll-free MANAS National Narcotics Helpline number 1933, ensuring the informer’s confidentiality.
