Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on drug smuggling, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police seized 263 grams of brown sugar worth over Rs 26 lakh from Bhubaneswar and arrested a man in this connection.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of the STF conducted a special operation on Sunday evening and apprehended a drug peddler from the Bomikhal area of the city.
According to STF DIG Pinak Mishra, the raided a location in Bomikhal and apprehended a suspect in possession of a significant quantity of brown sugar.
The accused, whose exact identity is being verified, was stated to be part of an organised drug distribution network operating across various parts of Odisha. The STF officials also seized mobile phones and other incriminating evidence pointing to a broader nexus involved in the illegal drug trade.
The seizure is part of STF’s intensified efforts under the ongoing anti-narcotics drive, the DIG said.
While a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the accused is being interrogated in custody to trace the supply chain and identify others involved in the racket.
Further investigation is in progress and more arrests are likely to be made, police said.
