Odisha STF catches large cache of brown sugar in Khurda
BHUBANESWAR: The special task force (STF) of the crime branch on Thursday seized brown sugar weighing 1 kg 310 gram during a raid in Khurda district.
After getting intelligence inputs, the STF had conducted a raid near Khurda bypass on National Highway-16 and apprehended one Sk Anwar alias Pintu of Muslimsahi at Kaipadar.
During the search, the team found brown sugar weighing 1 kg 310gm and other incriminating materials in his possession.
“The accused person could not produce any valid authority in support of possession of the contraband, for which the accused person was arrested on Thursday. He will be forwarded to the court. Investigation is underway,” said the crime branch sources.
Meanwhile, the excise officials have seized 200 gram of brown sugar worth around Rs 20 lakh from two persons in Puri on Thursday.
After getting intelligence input, the officials intercepted the duo near Siddha Mahavir railway level crossing and seized the contraband from their possession. Sources said the duo- Sibaprasad Behera and Raghunath Das from Puri town- had brought this illegal item from Balasore.
The STF on Wednesday said it had seized 20 quintals of ganja (cannabis) worth around Rs 1 crore from a truck near Muniguda in Rayagada district. The team had conducted the raid on Tuesday after getting a tipoff and seized the truck transporting the contraband. It was the biggest seizure of ganja for STF.
Last year, Odisha police had seized the highest quantity of 1,292 quintals of ganja. Police sources said such a huge quantity of cannabis could be seized due to the special drive taken by the government to counter drug trafficking.