Brown sugar valued at Rs 72 lakh seized in Bhubaneswar during raids; six arrested

In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police have seized contraband brown sugar worth ₹72 lakh in raids at two locations in Bhubaneswar .

A senior police officer confirmed the development on Wednesday, stating that five individuals were arrested while one juvenile was apprehended for their alleged involvement in drug peddling.

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Major Drug Bust in Nayapalli

Police sources revealed that the Special Crime Unit (SCU) of the twin-city police intercepted and seized 448 grams of brown sugar, valued at approximately ₹45 lakh, during a meticulously planned operation near Loyola School Square in the Nayapalli area on Tuesday.

"Acting on credible intelligence, the SCU team, led by a senior officer, raided the location. During the search, the police recovered the brown sugar from a backpack carried by the juvenile. His accomplice, S.K. Sohit, who was with him, managed to escape. The seized contraband was properly sealed and marked as evidence," a senior police officer stated.

Links to a Larger Drug Network

During the investigation, police uncovered that the accused duo was part of a broader drug peddling network with connections to suppliers in West Bengal.

The duo had conspired to distribute the contraband to local peddlers in Bhubaneswar. The juvenile has been booked under Sections 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act for unlawful possession and trafficking of brown sugar in criminal conspiracy with S.K. Sohit, who remains at large. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the absconding accused.

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Second Raid in Maitri Vihar

In another operation, the day patrolling party of Maitri Vihar Police Station arrested five habitual drug peddlers near Hatiasuni under its jurisdiction on Wednesday.

Police recovered 270 grams of brown sugar worth ₹27 lakh, along with a four-wheeler, a scooter, four mobile phones, and ₹14,500 in cash from the accused.

(With IANS Inputs)