Puri: The Excise Department has seized 196 grams of brown sugar, estimated to be worth around ₹20 lakh, during raids at two locations in Puri district and arrested two persons in connection with the seizure.
The raids were carried out by the Excise Department’s Mobile Unit in the Satyabadi police station area. The arrested persons have been identified as Pramod Bhoi and Subash Nayak, both residents of Badakanjia village under Satyabadi police station.
The two accused were subsequently produced in court, officials said.
The seizure of the contraband from two locations in a single day has raised suspicion about the possible operation of a drug trafficking network in the area, particularly as both arrested persons belong to the same village.
The Excise Department is investigating the source of the seized contraband, its intended recipients and the possible involvement of other persons in the suspected racket.
