Balasore: The excise officials here got another major breakthrough against drug trafficking Sunday when they arrested a drug dealer and seized brown sugar worth Rs 6 lakh at Jhadeswar under Jaleswar police limits.
About 60 gm of brown sugar was seized from Sheikh Sania (50), who was later produced in a court. According to reports, excise officials of Balasore and Jaleswar were carrying out joint patrolling Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, officials conducted a raid on the house of Sania and seized the contraband.
A case was registered against the drug dealer. Notably, in nearly last four months, police and excise officials have seized over 2.830 kg of brown sugar in Balasore area while six drug traders were arrested. Seven cases were filed.
Police had raided the house of Surman Bibi in Balasore April 29 and seized 31 gm of brown sugar. However, the accused managed to escape. Sahadevkhunta police arrested Rosina Bibi and seized 11 gm of brown sugar May 3.
The intelligence officials of Central Excise had arrested Sheikh Rafique May 28 and seized 930gm of contraband from him. Excise officials of Balasore and Jaleswar had arrested drug dealer Sheikh Kofajuddin and seized 50 gm of brown sugar from him in Rajpur slum in Jaleswar town.
About four days later, police raided Arad bazaar and the house of Sanwar Bibi and seized 1.2 kg brown sugar. Reports suggested that despite raids and action against drug mafia, drug peddling has not been contained in the area. PNN
