The Kalahandi Excise Department seized about five quintals of cannabis being moved through an online courier service and arrested a warehouse manager at Para Manandapur under Bhawanipatna block on Sunday.[1] The cannabis, packed in 25 sacks, was concealed in ice boxes used for fish packaging during a raid on a warehouse operated by Safex Press.[1]
The consignment was reportedly booked in the name of the Additional District Judge of Khurja in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh, and officials are investigating how the judge’s name and address were used as the consignee details.[1] The arrested man was identified as Satyendra Kumar Pandey, 30, a native of Uttar Pradesh and the chief manager of the warehouse, who was produced in court after his arrest.[1]
The courier facility had reportedly been operating at the location for more than two years, with the office of the Deputy Director of Mines above the warehouse and a restaurant behind it.[1] The raid was conducted under District Excise Superintendent Ranjan Kumar Nayak, with Additional Superintendent Sagarika Pradhan, Inspector Ramji Patel and Sub-Inspector Pankaj Naik taking part.[1]