📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ms Sarah Welch
Crime
79kg Narcotics and Pangolin Scales Seized in Joint Chhattisgarh-Odisha Raid, 8 Arrested
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 16 Sep 2026, 04:02 AM
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Police in Chhattisgarh and Odisha seized about 79 kg of narcotics and a cache of pangolin scales, arresting eight suspects in a coordinated crackdown.
A joint operation by law‑enforcement agencies in Chhattisgarh and Odisha resulted in the seizure of roughly 79 kilograms of narcotics and a significant quantity of pangolin scales, wildlife products listed under the CITES treaty. The raid, conducted in border districts of the two states, also led to the arrest of eight individuals suspected of trafficking both drugs and protected wildlife parts.
According to officials, the narcotics haul comprised a mixture of heroin and synthetic stimulants, while the pangolin scales were packed in sealed containers, indicating an organized smuggling network. The operation was coordinated by the state police, the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Forest Department, reflecting a growing focus on intersecting drug and wildlife crimes.
Investigators have opened separate case files for the drug and wildlife violations and are continuing to trace the supply chain. The eight arrested persons are being held for further interrogation, and the seized contraband has been forwarded to the respective forensic laboratories for analysis.
The seizure underscores the challenges faced by Indian authorities in curbing illegal trade that spans both narcotics and endangered species, and it highlights the need for sustained inter‑state cooperation.
According to officials, the narcotics haul comprised a mixture of heroin and synthetic stimulants, while the pangolin scales were packed in sealed containers, indicating an organized smuggling network. The operation was coordinated by the state police, the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Forest Department, reflecting a growing focus on intersecting drug and wildlife crimes.
Investigators have opened separate case files for the drug and wildlife violations and are continuing to trace the supply chain. The eight arrested persons are being held for further interrogation, and the seized contraband has been forwarded to the respective forensic laboratories for analysis.
The seizure underscores the challenges faced by Indian authorities in curbing illegal trade that spans both narcotics and endangered species, and it highlights the need for sustained inter‑state cooperation.