Bhubaneswar, April 7 : The Odisha Police on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations linked to individuals allegedly involved in the illegal cattle smuggling trade in different parts of the state.

Speaking to media persons, Pinak Mishra, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Eastern Range), Balasore, on Tuesday said, â??searches are being conducted at around 32 locations today. These locations were previously identified during investigations into individuals involved in the organised cattle transport trade, which has been ongoing for several years.â??

Mishra also revealed that as many as 18 platoons of police force, eight Additional Superintendents of Police, 17 Deputy SP-rank officers, 25 inspectors, and 67 Sub-Inspector/Assistant Sub-Inspector-rank officers have been engaged in the massive search operations in Balasore, Bhadrak, and Mayurbhanj districts of the state.

During his interaction with the media persons, he revealed that the raids are based on intelligence that came to light following a detailed examination of several cases related to illegal cattle transportation reported in these three districts in the recent past. The police have so far seized over Rs 50 lakh in cash, a huge quantity of gold and silver ornaments, and several vehicles used in the illegal trade of cattle transportation.

â??Apart from this, we have also recovered several firearms and other dangerous weapons during the search operations, indicating that the illegal transportation of cattle was being carried out as an organised crime. I want to make it clear that we have a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal cattle smuggling. The operation has been launched as per the directions of the state government and the DGP of Odisha Police,â?? the DIGP further added.

He informed the media that around six people have been detained in Bhadrak, while about four persons each have been detained in Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts of the state.

Notably, the crackdown on illegal cattle transportation in the state has intensified since the BJP government assumed power. According to reports, as many as 473 cases of illegal cattle transportation were registered in 2023, rising to 533 in 2024 and further to 872 in 2025.

/IANS