Bhubaneswar: Police arrested a man on Saturday after seizing 170 grams of brown sugar, valued at Rs 17 lakh, from his possession in the Arad Bazar area of Balasore town.
Along with the narcotics, the police also recovered Rs 30,600 in cash from the accused.
Speaking to the media, Balasore Superintendent of Police (SP) Raj Prasad stated that the arrest followed credible information.
“Acting on a tip-off, our special team raided the premises and apprehended the accused, who was engaged in small-scale drug trafficking. In total, 170 grams of brown sugar was seized from his exclusive possession, and Rs 30,600 in cash was also recovered,” he said.
The SP further revealed that the accused had been involved in various criminal activities since 2022.
The Special Task Force (STF) had registered multiple cases against him and in December 2022, he was granted bail.
Upon his release from jail, he resumed working as a driver, continuing his involvement in the illegal trade of contraband substances. “Following our surveillance, we were able to arrest him,” the SP added.
Investigations revealed that the accused was sourcing the contraband from Jaleswar and West Bengal and distributing it to customers in Balasore town.
The accused has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and is facing multiple criminal charges.
The police have stated that their investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend others linked to the illegal operation.
