The crime branch of Odisha police has said drug peddlers are trying to amass huge quantities of cocaine, ganja and other narcotics in the city with the primary objective to sell it to foreign nationals during the upcoming Hockey World Cup 2023.

The prestigious tournament will be held from January 13-29, 2023. The matches will be played in Rourkela and Bhubaneswar.

Hockey India and its official partner Odisha will host the event for the second consecutive time after successfully conducting the event in 2018. Since many foreign nationals are scheduled to visit Odisha either as part of the participating teams or to witness the games, drug peddlers have become active in Odisha, particularly in Bhubaneswar. Cocaine and Marijuana are believed to be in high demand among foreigners, so the focus is on these drugs.

Deputy inspector general (DIG) of the special task force, crime branch, J.N. Pankaj

told The Telegraph: “We have arrested a number of inter-state drug peddlers and seized incriminating materials from their possession. They have already confessed how they plan to target the foreign nationals who are coming to see the hockey World Cup. Most Europeans and Americans prefer cocaine while the Indians prefer other forms of narcotic substances including ganja and marijuana. Besides, rich foreign nationals can afford cocaine.”

Officials said one of the accused Ravi, arrested by the STF this year, confessed how he used to sell cocaine in different areas of Delhi, procuring it from bigger dealers and planning to sell it in Bhubaneswar.

“Ravi has been in the travel business in Delhi since the time of the Commonwealth Games and he had learnt how to sell cocaine in rich localities. The inter-state drug peddlers can speak fluent English. They did have contacts with many foreigners too.”

DIG Pankaj said: “Last week Drug Disposal Committee in presence of scientific officers of the state forensic science laboratory and members of the State Pollution Board, disposed of 616kg of ganja at a designated incinerator following all due procedures.”

Unlike cannabis (ganja/ marijuana/weeds) and heroin/ brown sugar (prepared from opium), cocaine is not produced in India. Cocaine is produced from coca plants which are native to South America. It is mainly produced in Latin American countries like Colombia, Peru and Bolivia and consumed mainly in the USA and Europe. A special drive against narcotic drugs is continuing in Odisha.

“Since 2020, STF has seized more than 50kg of brown sugar/heroin, 202 gram cocaine and more than 92 quintals of ganja/marijuana and arrested more than 139 drug dealers/peddlers,” STF officials said.