On Sunday, Bhadrak police foiled a drug smuggling attempt near Haladidihi Chhak on the Chandabali route by arresting three individuals and seizing brown sugar valued at over Rs 15 lakh.
Acting on a tip-off, Purunabazar Police intercepted a white Maruti Dzire near Nath Sahi during a routine patrol. The vehicle attempted to flee but was stopped. A search recovered 15.8 grams of brown sugar, 8 grams of packaging foil, four mobile phones, and the car itself.
The arrested have been identified as Ajwari Bibi (57), Sanjiba Bibi (40), and her husband Sheik Naruddin (54), residents of Begunia Jadupur in Bhubaneswar’s Khandagiri Police Station limits.
Police sources say the trio claimed they were hired to deliver the contraband for a large payment and were unaware of the drugs’ original source. Authorities suspect involvement of a larger trafficking network and are conducting an extensive investigation.
All three accused have been presented before the court, and further legal proceedings are underway.
