Bhadrak: Despite repeated raids, drug smuggling continues to flourish in Bhadrak district. Police and excise officials conducted separate raids over last 24 hours and arrested six people involved in brown sugar trade.
They seized 296 gm of brown sugar from them, a report said.
Addressing a presser at Bhadrak rural police station Wednesday, police revealed they have arrested four drug peddlers including two women near the railway over bridge on the Charampa-Dhamra road.
Police seized 265 gm of brown sugar from their possession. The contraband is valued at Rs 26 lakh. Among the arrested are two women hailing from Charampa area.
The accused were identified as Bishal Sharma, Seikh Babul, Barsarani Mallick and Bachan Mallick. Police seized a bike and cell phones from them.
“Further investigation into drug peddling is on. Police are looking into who else are involved in the racket,” said ASP Jatin Panda.
Similarly, officials of the central intelligence wing of the excise department had seized 31 gm of brown sugar from people in Bhadrak bypass area Tuesday.
The accused were identified as Lambodar Nayak and Sushant Kumar Roul of Tihidi. A case was registered against the duo.
Locals alleged that despite raids by police and excise officials, there is no let-up in drug peddling in some parts of Bhadrak. It is alleged that brown sugar is being supplied from West Bengal via Jaleswar in Balasore.
PNN