Bhubaneswar, Mar 20: In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police seized brown sugar worth over Rs 72 lakh in raids at two locations in the capital city and nabbed six individuals including one juvenile in this connection.
This development was confirmed by a senior police officer on Wednesday.
As per reports, the raids were conducted near Loyola School Square in the Nayapalli and near Hatiasuni under Maitri Vihar Police limits in the city.
In the first operation, the Special Crime Unit (SCU) of the twin-city police, acting on a tip-off, carried out a well-planned operation near Loyola School Square in the Nayapalli area on Tuesday. During the raid, the cops recovered and seized 448 grams of brown sugar worth approximately Rs 45 lakh.
The cops recovered the brown sugar from a backpack carried by a juvenile, who was apprehended later. However, his accomplice, identified as S.K. Sohit, managed to escape from the scene.
During the course of investigation, police discovered that the accused duo was linked to a larger drug peddling network with connections to suppliers in West Bengal. A manhunt has been launched to apprehend the absconding accused.
In the second operation, the day patrolling party of Maitri Vihar Police in the city conducted a raid near Hatiasuni on Wednesday and recovered 270 grams of brown sugar worth over Rs 27 lakh.
The cops arrested five habitual drug peddlers in this connection and recovered a four-wheeler, a scooter, four mobile phones, and Rs 14,500 in cash from their possession.
