Brown sugar worth Rs 15 lakh seized in Khordha; three arrested

In a major crackdown on the illegal drug trade, police in Khordha seized brown sugar worth Rs 15 lakh and arrested three accused. The operation was conducted by Adarsha Police near Hata Pokhari on the Batamangala Road, where the suspects were allegedly waiting to sell the narcotic substance.

The Operation and Seizure

Acting on a tip-off, police raided the area on Thursday evening and detained three men. During the search, officers recovered 150 grams of brown sugar along with Rs 34,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds from drug sales. The contraband and cash were immediately confiscated.

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Who Were Arrested

The arrested individuals have been identified as Suresh Behera of Mukundaprasad, Ritesh Pattnayak of Baliabadi, and Arttatran Behera of Samantrapur, all residents of Khordha district. The accused were at the spot to sell brown sugar when the police conducted the raid.

"At Hata Pokhari, Batamagala Road, where we caught the three accused and seized 150 grams of Brown Sugar, Rs 34,000 cash, 3 mobile phones, and 2 bikes. We have filed a case and arrested them, and the court forwarded them. If they have any other case in other places, we will verify it and take action accordingly," said Nihar Ranjan Pradhan, SDPO (Sub-Divisional Police Officer), Khordha.

A Step Toward a Drug-Free Khordha

Officials said the operation reflects the district police’s commitment to curbing the rising drug menace. Further raids are expected as part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign across Odisha.