Khordha: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Khordha Police on Friday conducted two separate raids under Model Police Station and Industrial Estate (I.E.) Police Station, arresting five drug peddlers and seizing a total of 55 grams of brown sugar, along with multiple vehicles, mobile phones, and cash.
The twin operations, conducted under the overall supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivekanand Sharma and SDPO Nihar Ranjan Pradhan highlight the district police’s sustained efforts to combat the illegal drug trade.
In the first case, registered under Khordha Model police station on Friday, a police team led by S.I. Dinesh Kumar Pingua intercepted two suspects near Monalisa English Medium School on BDA Road, TLC Road, Khordha, around 12:40 PM. Acting on credible information, the team apprehended the accused and recovered 30 grams of brown sugar, four mobile phones, one Bajaj Pulsar-150 motorcycle, one Aprilia SXR scooter (OD-33-AH-5546), and ₹36,000 in cash from their possession.
Both accused, aged 25 and 26 years, are residents of Khordha. The raid was conducted under the direction of SP Sharma and the supervision of SDPO Pradhan and IIC Sanjay Kumar Nayak. The case has been registered under Sections 21(b)/29 of the NDPS Act, and S.I. Swagatika Das has been assigned as the Investigating Officer.
In a separate operation later the same day, around 7:30 PM, Inspector Basudev Jayasingh of Khordha Industrial Estate Police Station, acting on a tip-off, led a raid near Barunei Hill, adjacent to Britannia Company, and apprehended three youngsters who were allegedly preparing to sell brown sugar for quick profit.
The search led to the seizure of 25 grams of brown sugar, three mobile phones, and two motorcycles. The accused hail from Janla, Sahid Nagar, and Pallahata areas of Khordha district. The raid was conducted by a team led by Umesh Kumar Sahoo, IIC, I.E. police station under the supervision of SP Sharma and SDPO Pradhan. S.I. Ashok Mohanty is investigating the case.
Police sources said that both cases are part of Khordha Police’s intensified campaign against narcotics networks. Further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain and identify others involved in the illegal trade.