In a major crackdown on narcotics, the Odisha Excise Department on Tuesday arrested two drug peddlers and seized brown sugar worth Rs16.5 lakh in Bhubaneswar.
The accused, identified as Litendra Behera and D. Seemadri Reddy, were using a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle to transport the contraband across the city. Acting on a tip-off, the Excise team laid a trap near Megheswar Temple, where a suspected drug deal was set to occur.
The duo was caught red-handed, and officials seized the brown sugar and the motorcycle used in the operation. Preliminary findings suggest that Behera and Reddy are part of a larger drug trafficking network operating in and around Odisha’s capital.
Officials have confirmed that an investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and identify additional suspects linked to the racket.
This operation comes amid a state-wide campaign against narcotics, with Odisha witnessing a disturbing rise in synthetic drug use, particularly among youth.
In a similar raid in June, the Odisha Crime Branch STF had seized 319 grams of brown sugar worth around ₹31 lakh from the banks of the Kuakhai River, also near Bhubaneswar. The arrested individual in that case had prior drug-related charges in Badagada and Balianta.
The Excise Department has not issued an official statement yet but sources confirm that more arrests are likely in the coming days.
