In a significant narcotics crackdown, Bhanjanagar police in Ganjam district arrested three individuals and seized 31.4 grams of brown sugar worth over Rs3 lakh.
The raid took place on Thursday at Jampalli Chowk, following a tip-off about drug activities, said Additional SP Ranjana Kumar Dey during a press conference on Friday.
The arrested individuals are:
Rakesh Kumar Behera, Odagaon (Nayagarh district)
Amiya Ranjana Mahanti, Bhanjanagar
Amit Kumar Behera, Baunshalundi
Police also recovered Rs2,100 in cash and two mobile phones. The contraband was weighed in the presence of Magistrate and Tehsildar Abinash Maharana.
The operation was led by Bhanjanagar IIC Jibananda Jena, under the supervision of SDPO Deepak Kumar Mishra. A case has been registered under Section 21(b) of the NDPS Act, and the accused were produced before court on August 22.
Additional SP Dey stated that further investigation is ongoing to identify others linked to the trafficking network. Officials noted that brown sugar smuggling is a growing threat in Bhanjanagar, reportedly entering from other districts and states, adversely affecting youth in the region.
Acting on directives from Ganjam SP Shubhendu Kumar Patra, police have intensified surveillance and operations to curb the drug menace.
