In a major success in the drive against the clandestine drug trade in the State, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch seized a huge quantity of brown sugar following a raid at Basta in Baleswar district on Thursday.
As per official sources, the STF sleuths seized over 2 kilogram and 12 gram of the contraband and arrested one person in this connection. The estimated market value of the seized narcotic was estimated to be Rs 2 crore. Director General of Police (DGP) Abhay said the STF seized the brown sugar consignment on the basis of reliable intelligence inputs. A case under Section 21(c), 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 has been registered and further investigations were on for more information about the racket. The DGP lauded the ongoing crackdown by the STF against narcotics trafficking in the State and busting of major drug smuggling rackets.
In fact, the STF has seized more than 34 kg of brown sugar and 66 quintals of ganja during its special drive since 2020. Over 100 drugs traffickers and peddlers have been rounded up in several cases so far by the STF, Abhay said.
Notably, Baleswar district is known to be a narcotics business hub in the State. It is from this district that brown sugar is smuggled from neighbouring States, including West Bengal, and supplied to different parts of Odisha.