In a significant crackdown on the narcotics trade, Jaleswar Police arrested the notorious drug peddler Sheikh Samiruddin alias Taklu on Monday in the Jhadeswar locality of Balasore district. The police apprehended him at a hotel, where they seized a large quantity of brown sugar, valued at approximately Rs 30 lakh.
Taklu, who has a history of involvement in the illegal drug trade, is suspected of smuggling narcotics from neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, before distributing them throughout Odisha. His arrest adds to the growing number of cases in the region linked to the rampant illegal drug trade, particularly the distribution of brown sugar, which is not locally produced but has become widespread in areas such as Arada Bazaar and Jaleswar.
Law enforcement agencies have stepped up their efforts to combat the narcotics issue in Balasore, registering 19 cases and arresting 25 individuals last year. In just the first month of this year, seven individuals have been arrested in four separate cases. Police are closely monitoring trafficking routes, including road, waterways, and railways, which are commonly used to smuggle brown sugar into Odisha, particularly from West Bengal through Bangaon.
According to Balasore SP Raj Prasad, the authorities are actively working with inter-state coordination meetings and establishing naka check-posts to crack down on smuggling activities. “We are closely monitoring the illicit drug trade and will soon break the link of these cartels,” Prasad assured.
The brown sugar trade has become a significant concern, especially for youths in Odisha. Local leaders have raised alarms over the growing prevalence of drug addiction among college students, with the issue becoming so widespread that it’s been likened to a cottage industry.
Despite the presence of the Excise Department in the state, there is a growing concern that drug mafia groups, armed with sophisticated weaponry, are outpacing the efforts of law enforcement. Sushant Padhi, the Balasore Excise Superintendent, acknowledged that brown sugar is being trafficked into Balasore from West Bengal, and that local youth are heavily involved in this illegal trade. The growing threat of these mafia operations has sparked calls for more coordinated efforts to dismantle these supply chains.
The police remain vigilant in their efforts, but the scale of the problem suggests that much more work is needed to disrupt the extensive narcotics networks operating in the region.
