The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch on Monday seized as much as 3.1 kg of brown sugar from a house at Sinduria village under the Nayagarh Town police station.
Besides, the agency also recovered arms and ammunitions. A peddler, identified as K Vickey Rao of Rajabazar area of Khordha, was arrested from the spot. The market value of the seized contraband is more than Rs 3 crore.
Apart from the drug, cash of Rs 65.32 lakh, three 7mm sophisticated pistols, 43 live rounds of ammunitions and a cash-counting machine were also recovered.
This was the biggest drug haul by the STF so far in 2022. It was also for the first time that such a huge quantity of narcotics was seized from Nayagarh district.
Crime Branch ADG Sanjeeb Panda said, “Our investigation is still on to ascertain the source of the seized drug to unearth the supply chain of the accused Vicky.”
Panda said, “After we got reliable inputs, we conduct the raid. So far, it has been ascertained that Vicky was operating the drug racket with the help of two associates, who are still absconding.”
He said it was yet to be ascertained whether the pistols were meant to be sold or kept by the accused for protection.
Notably, the STF has seized more than 47 Kg of brown sugar in the special drive against narcotic trade since 2020. Similarly, 122 drug dealers/peddlers have also been arrested in several cases. The agency has also seized 67 illegal arms so far.