In a significant breakthrough, Jagatsinghpur police on Tuesday arrested six members of the infamous ‘Don Brothers’ drug syndicate near Mangalpur Bypass following a well-planned intelligence-led operation. The raid was carried out under the supervision of the SDPO, Jagatsinghpur.
The arrested accused include Soumyajit Parija alias Biki, the alleged gang leader and resident of Ohala village. Parija, a repeat offender, was earlier arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in 2021 for possession of 3 kg of brown sugar and Rs 1 crore in cash. He is reportedly involved in seven criminal cases.
Others arrested were Swapnajit Parija alias Jaki, Tushar Ranjan Das, and Ranjit Das alias Sipu—all from Ohala village—as well as Abhijatya Sahoo and Ranjan Kumar Gochayat of Lalasahi village. Police said one more suspect remains absconding.
During the operation, authorities seized 70 grams of brown sugar, a scooter, and three mobile phones used in drug trafficking. Investigations revealed that the Don Brothers cartel, led by Biki Parija, operated an extensive drug network across the district with connections to suppliers in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Drugs were reportedly smuggled via the Digha coast using boats, while the gang used layered payment methods to avoid detection. Police said the group mainly targeted college students and school youths, offering free samples to hook them into addiction.
The investigation is ongoing to trace other associates and uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s network.
