Bhubaneswar: The Excise department Wednesday seized 50 kg of ganja worth about Rs 5 lakh and 160 gm of brown sugar valued at Rs 16 lakh, arresting three persons and detaining two minors in separate raids conducted in the district.
In the ganja seizure case, the Excise team arrested Rakesh Sahu (23) and Brahmananda Panda (23) and detained two minors.
Two vehicles were also seized during the operation at Hirapur main road in the Balakati area under the Balianta police station limits.
According to reports, the ganja was being transported from the Kandhamal area to Balakati.
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Acting on a reliable tip-off, the Excise team intercepted the ganja-laden vehicles and arrested the smugglers.
However, one accused managed to flee from the spot.
Further investigation is underway to nab the other persons involved in the smuggling. In another case, inspectors of the Bhubaneswar Range–II Excise team arrested Zahar Ali Khan, a resident of the CRPF Munda Sahi area, while he was selling brown sugar pouches.
The team seized 160 grams of brown sugar, estimated to be worth Rs 16 lakh.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to identify his associates and the source of the contraband.
“During the ganja seizure operation, the five smugglers created a ruckus at the spot. Although we overpowered them, one managed to escape.
In another case, we arrested a brown sugar smuggler and seized 160 grams of brown sugar.
Today, we have seized narcotics worth Rs21 lakh,” said Bhubaneswar Excise SP Debasish Patel.
