Vikash Sharma

It seems Bhubaneswar has become a major transit point for various narcotics substances and country liquor. This was revealed once again after huge quantities of brown sugar and hooch was seized during raids at different parts Bhubaneswar and elsewhere in Khordha district in the last 24 hours.

As many as 15 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the illegal narcotics and liquor trade during the raids.

Police sources said 1.26 kg brown sugar worth Rs 1 crore was seized by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Odisha Police's Crime Branch near Khordha bus stand. Three persons from whom the contraband consignment was seized during the STF raid on Thursday evening have been arrested, Director-General of Police (DGP) Abhay said.

The arrested accused have been identified as Aftab alias Md Saiyaz of Cuttack, Muna alias SK Kamruddin of Bhadrak district and Sourav Pattanaik of Khordha.

They have been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the state police chief said. "Since 2020, the STF has seized over 36 kg brown sugar and around 74.38 quintals of ganja, besides arresting more than 100 drug peddlers," a senior STF officer said.

In another incident, the Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Commissionerate Police seized brown sugar worth Rs 26 lakh following a raid at Shantipalli area under Saheednagar Police Station limits in Bhubaneswar today. Four persons have been arrested in this connection.

A joint team of Nayapalli police and the State Excise Department personnel seized huge quantities of country-made liquor following raids at Saliasahi area today. As per official sources, around 500 litres of country-made liquor and 6000 litres of raw material used for manufacturing of Handia were confiscated during the raids. Eight persons have been arrested in this connection, official sources said.

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