Smuggling and peddling brown sugar have allegedly become a booming business in Balasore district of Odisha. Trade of the contraband continues to flourish here.
In another major crackdown, Jaleswar Excise Department Officials seized 150 gram of brown sugar worth around Rs 15,00,000 at Chalanti Square along NH-16 in the area on Thursday.
Two persons, including a woman, have been arrested in this connection and the car in which they were peddling the contraband has also been seized.
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Acting on an intelligence input, a 10-member Excise team conducted a raid and nabbed the two peddlers apart from seizing 150 gram of the narcotic substance.
Other incriminating materials were also recovered from their possession, police said.
A case has been registered against the duo under sections 21 (C) and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985.
"Further investigation into the incident is underway. The accused will be forwarded to the court soon," said Jaleswar Excise Sub-Inspector Debendra Kumar Behera.
It is worth mentioning that over 2.5 kilogram of the narcotic substance has been seized from the area and as many as five persons including two women have been arrested in this connection in the last 10 days.
Since 2020, in various special drives against narcotic drugs, STF has seized more than 38 Kg of brown sugar and more than 84.28 quintals marijuana in the State. More than 100 drug peddlers have been arrested in this connection.
(Edited by Pradeep Singh)