The State Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) confiscated more than three kilograms of brown sugar worth over Rs 4 crore and Rs 60 lakh in cash from a leased property in PWD Lane in Nayagarh district on Monday, in one of Odisha’s biggest narcotics busts.
Three firearms and some live rounds were also taken from the house, in addition to the drugs and cash. According to officials, one suspect has been apprehended in this case, with up to seven peddlers suspected of being involved in the drugs ring.
According to reports, the main accused, who is said to be from another district, has been living in a rented house with his family for the past few months. According to a Crime Branch source, he was allegedly involved in the drug peddling business in the area.
The STF team raided the rented house and seized the contraband after receiving intelligence about his brown sugar trade. After initially failing to locate the accused, the team allegedly interrogated his family members in order to elicit more information about his drug syndicate. According to a Crime Branch official, further investigation into the case is underway.
The capture of such a large number of drugs in Nayagarh comes only a few weeks before the region’s planned Panchayat Elections, putting policing authorities on edge.
Meanwhile, Nayagarh intellectuals and residents have expressed alarm over the district’s drug problem, which is claimed to be spreading its tentacles among the youth.
Prasanta Patnaik