Bhubaneswar: In a major coordinated enforcement action, Odisha Police launched widespread raids targeting organized cattle smuggling syndicates across several northern districts including Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Jajpur. The operations, which intensified on 7 April were designed to dismantle the financial and logistical backbone of the cattle mafia operating in the region.
In Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj, police teams conducted simultaneous searches at dozens of locations linked to suspected kingpins. In Bhadrak’s Mullasahi and Puruna Bazar areas, officials seized significant quantities of hard cash, gold ornaments, and luxury vehicles. Reports indicate that at least 50 lakh in cash was recovered in recent raids, adding to the over 1.40 crore seized in the broader campaign against these networks. In Mayurbhanj, the crackdown covered 15 locations including Baripada, Rairangpur, and Bangiriposi, resulting in the seizure of several four-wheelers and motorcycles used for the illegal transportation of animals toward the West Bengal border.
The raids in Balasore and Jajpur focused on intercepting transit routes and raiding hideouts where cattle were being consolidated. Authorities deployed multiple police platoons and specialized teams to manage the scale of the operation. Beyond the recovery of livestock, the police have seized firearms, sharp weapons, and incriminating documents, including land deeds and bank records, suggesting the smuggling profits were being laundered into real estate and other businesses.
Superintendent of Police and DIG-level officers overseeing the mission stated that the objective is not only to stop the physical movement of cattle but to freeze the assets of those orchestrating the trade. The state government has signaled that these enforcement drives will continue as investigators trace interstate connections and the financiers supporting the illegal trade.
DIG Eastern Range Shri Pinak Mishra briefed the media on the extensive multi-district operations targeting cattle smuggling syndicates in Odisha. The senior official confirmed that the coordinated raids, covering Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, and Jajpur, were executed to dismantle the financial infrastructure of the cattle mafia which has been operating across state borders.
DIG Shri Mishra detailed that the enforcement teams, comprising multiple platoons and specialized units, focused on the residences and hideouts of key kingpins. In Bhadrak’s Mullasahi and Puruna Bazar areas, the raids led to the recovery of substantial liquid cash, gold ornaments, and documents related to suspicious real estate investments. The DIG emphasized that the investigation is now pivoting toward the “money trail,” as evidence suggests the illegal proceeds from cattle trafficking were being laundered into legitimate businesses and property holdings.
In Balasore and Mayurbhanj, the operation successfully disrupted major transit corridors used for smuggling animals toward the West Bengal border. Shri Mishra noted that several luxury vehicles and specialized transport trucks were seized during the crackdown. He further informed the press that the police are working in close coordination with neighboring state authorities to identify interstate linkages and the primary financiers of these networks. The DIG stated that strict legal action under the Odisha Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and relevant sections of the BNS will be pursued, and similar surprise enforcement drives will continue across the Eastern Range to ensure a complete crackdown on these illegal activities.