A total of 360 kg of dry ganja having value of around Rs 20 lakh have been seized from an ambulance belonging to a primary health centre of Pedabayalu, near Paderu in Vizag agency, an Excise official said here today.
A manhunt is on for the ambulance driver who has been identified as A Matsya Raju and a smuggler, who fled under the cover of darkness during the operation by Prohibition and Excise officials late last night, he added.
With enforcement squads stepping up raids and seizing contraband, smugglers have developed innovative methods to transport ganja.
Paderu Excise Inspector L Uppendra said that based on a tip-off, they set up a check post near Luvvasingi village under G Madugula to apprehend the smugglers.
The ambulance passed by a checkpost at high speed after which officials gave a hot chase.
After spotting another vehicle of excise officials from the opposite direction near Paderu, the driver stopped the ambulance and fled the spot along with a smuggler.
The excise officials seized the contraband and the ambulance.
It is the first such case in the district when an enforcement squad seized ganja from an ambulance.
