Odisha Police Bust Online Saree Racket Used to Smuggle 113 kg Ganja
Balangir police arrested seven and seized 113 kg of ganja hidden in saree boxes, exposing a loophole in e-commerce logistics.
In a novel twist to drug trafficking, the Balangir police in Odisha have arrested seven men for allegedly using a leading e-commerce platform to smuggle ganja concealed inside Sambalpuri saree parcels. The arrests came on Wednesday after a tip-off led to the seizure of 113 kg of the contraband, packed in boxes that were on their way to a logistics centre for dispatch.
The accused had registered as sellers on the platform earlier this year, offering the iconic Sambalpuri saree known for its double Ikat weave. Orders flowed in from across the country, and for months the operation appeared to be a legitimate business. However, police say the sarees were a cover for cannabis sourced from the interior areas of the neighbouring Kandhamal district.
According to Balangir Superintendent of Police Abilash G., the gang exploited a critical gap in the e-commerce supply chain: parcels are not scanned for their contents before being shipped. The accused generated QR codes through the platform, dropped the sealed boxes at the local logistics centre, and the parcels were delivered like any other order. The consignment seized was destined for Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Police recovered at least ten large boxes, each containing ten smaller boxes, in which the ganja was concealed. Investigation, including review of CCTV footage, revealed that the gang had used the same method four to five times earlier to transport cannabis to various parts of the country. The logistics centre had no details about the sellers beyond their CCTV images, as the QR code system only required a scan for dispatch and delivery.
The SP added that the accused learned this modus operandi from buyers who visited Balangir to train them. Police are now exploring legal options against the e-commerce platform. The logistics centre has been directed to adopt scanning procedures similar to those used by CISF at airports to inspect sealed parcels.
Odisha remains a major source hub for illegal cannabis, with syndicates supplying states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Goa. In recent months, police have intensified efforts, including drone-based drives, to destroy illegal cultivation. Earlier this year, the state police destroyed over 108 metric tonnes of seized ganja valued at around Rs 544 crore.