Brown sugar seized, two arrested in Cuttack

Cuttack: Continuing its crackdown against illegal drugs trade, the Excise flying squad on Monday seized nearly 80 grams of brown sugar following a raid in Cuttack.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of excise sleuths had raided Machuabazar area and seized the contraband worth nearly Rs 8 lakh from a house. Two persons- Manoj Kahali and Dilip Kahali have been arrested in this connection.

A large quantity of ganja has also been recovered during the raid while further investigation in this connection is on, said a senior excise official.

Official sources said Cuttack is fast becoming a major hub of illegal drugs trade in the State as several narcotics items are being smuggled to other parts after consignment is imported from neighbouring States including West Bengal.

The flying squad of excise department seized 45 grams of brown sugar from Jobra area and arrested Basistha Pradhan in this connection on February 8. The cost of the seized narcotics was estimated at Rs 4.5 lakh.

On January 31, the excise officials had seized over 450 grams of brown sugar worth Rs 50 lakh from a car near Mahanadi bridge at Gandarpur area.

Two persons including a former tax collector of Khurda municipality was also arrested in connection with drug peddling racket.