In a sharp crackdown on the growing drug menace along the national highway, Bharatpur and Infovalley police have arrested five persons and seized more than 35 grams of brown sugar (heroin) along with cash and motorcycles in two separate operations.
The raids highlight the alarming rise in illegal brown sugar trafficking from Khordha towards Bhubaneswar and its suburbs.
Bharatpur Police Operation
On the night of 13-14 February, a special team from Bharatpur police station raided a secluded spot behind Nature Park in GI Colony and arrested two peddlers — Kartik Das and Laxmi Das. They recovered 12.92 grams of brown sugar, cash and a motorcycle.
During interrogation, the duo confessed they had been regularly buying the contraband from a woman known as “Rami” in the Bharatpur area. A case was immediately registered and both were sent to judicial custody.
Acting on further intelligence, police arrested the alleged supplier, Sumitra Nayak alias Rami alias Sumi, from her house on Monday. ₹7,100 was seized from her possession. She admitted to supplying brown sugar to the two arrested peddlers. She too was forwarded to court.
Infovalley Police Operation
In a separate raid, Infovalley police arrested two more accused — Santosh Parida and Rajendra Behera — who were transporting brown sugar from Khordha towards Paniora. Police seized 22 grams of the narcotic and a motorcycle.
Both admitted to regular involvement in the trade. A fresh case has been registered and the duo has been sent to judicial custody. Investigation is continuing.
Senior officers said the national highway stretch has become a preferred route for drug peddlers and assured that strict action will continue against narcotics trade in the capital region.
