Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, officials of the Excise Department seized heroin worth approximately ₹14.3 lakh and arrested one person in Khordha district on Monday.
Acting on the direction of Samarjit Dash, Superintendent of Excise (S.E.), and under the direct supervision of Rosan Isu Hansda, Deputy Superintendent of Excise (D.S.E.), a Flying Squad of Excise Intelligence & Enforcement Bureau (EI & EB), Unit-I, Cuttack, detected an NDPS case during a raid.
The accused, identified as Sujit Kumar Behera alias Dipu (43) of Balabhadrapur under Balipatna police station limits, was apprehended near Garedipanchan Chhak. Officials seized 143 grams of heroin from his possession along with a Vivo Y400 5G mobile phone.
The estimated market value of the seized contraband is around ₹14.3 lakh, officials said.
Following the arrest, Behera was booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and later forwarded to judicial custody.
The raid was carried out by a team led by Inspector of Excise Susant Kumar Mohapatra, along with SI Amit Kumar Biswal, SI SK Sakir Ulla, ASI Karna Oram, Lady Constable Sasmita Sahoo, and other supporting staff.
Further investigation into the case is underway to ascertain possible links in the drug supply chain.
