Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Commissionerate Police seized 515 grams of brown sugar worth around Rs 50 lakh headed for Bhubaneswar on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to the media, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissioner of Police (CP) Suresh Devdutt Singh on Wednesday said that the seizure was part of the ongoing drive against synthetic drugs in the twin cities. “A few days ago, about 750 grams of brown sugar was seized following raids at several places. Acting on intelligence input, the special crime unit of Commissionerate Police intercepted a consignment of 515 grams of brown sugar for Bhubaneswar yesterday evening and arrested two persons,” he said.
Those arrested have been identified as Zamir Mohammad and Shahid Mohammad, both hailing from Balasore district. They were nabbed near Khandagiri while plotting to transport the contraband and Rs 3,000 in cash was also seized from them. Probe is on ascertain whether they are linked to a larger drug peddling network.
“On the basis of information elicited from the arrestees, raids are currently ongoing at several places,” he said.
The CP reiterated Commissionerate Police’ zero tolerance policy towards synthetic drugs. “However, this drive against drug use should not be confined to police action. The drug addicts need our sympathy and positive action. The price of drugs shoots up in the market amid the demand, making them unaffordable. The addicts then take to crime to meet their drug needs. Many of them work as peddlers,” he said, stressing the need for their complete rehabilitation through counselling and medicines.
Last month, Singh had said that the peddlers would be strictly dealt with if they are found luring students and youngsters towards drug addiction. He also assured that the police would assist the youths who have decided to quit drugs and facilitate their admission in various rehabilitation centres/agencies here.
This followed the arrest of five persons and detention of a juvenile from two different places in the city with brown sugar worth Rs 72 lakh. While 270 gm brown sugar worth Rs 27 lakh was seized at Maitri Vihar, leading to the arrest of five persons, a juvenile was apprehended with 448 gm brown sugar worth Rs 45 lakh during a raid near Xavier road within Nayapalli police limits.
