Dhenkanal: A woman and her son were arrested by officials of the Excise department in Kamakshyanagar area of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district 680 grams of brown sugar seized from them.
Sources said another accused son of the woman is absconding and a hunt is on to nab him. The estimated value of the seized brown sugar is stated to be over Rs 68 lakh.
Acting on a tip off, two teams of the Excise department carried out a raid in Mundideuli Sahi of Kamakshyanagar town and seized the contraband. The arrested duo had been running the illegal trade for a long time.
Officials said the brown sugar racket has been increasing in Kamakshyanagar area, with an increasing number of youth getting involved in the illicit activity. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding accused.
This is the first such large-scale seizure in Dhenkanal district, prompting investigators to probe the source of the contraband. The supply chain is suspected to operating beyond Odisha.
