Bhadrak police on Sunday seized brown sugar valued at over Rs 15 lakh and arrested three individuals—two of them women—while foiling a drug smuggling attempt near Haladidihi Chhak on the Chandabali route.
Acting on a tip-off, the Purunabazar Police intercepted a white Maruti Dzire that attempted to flee during a routine patrol. Upon searching the vehicle near Nath Sahi, officers recovered 15.8 grams of brown sugar, 8 grams of packaging foil, four mobile phones, and the car itself.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ajwari Bibi (57), Sanjiba Bibi (40), and her husband, Sheik Naruddin (54)—all residents of Begunia Jadupur under Khandagiri Police Station limits in Bhubaneswar.
According to police sources, the accused admitted they were only tasked with delivering the contraband in exchange for a large payment and were unaware of the original source or owner of the drugs. Authorities suspect a larger network may be involved and have initiated a deeper investigation.
All three have been presented in court, and further legal proceedings are underway as officials work to trace the supply chain behind the smuggling.
