Bhubaneswar: Excise Department officials on Tuesday busted a brown sugar trafficking racket in Bhubaneswar and arrested four persons, including a father-son duo, during a raid in the Mainshikhal Basti area under the Badagada police limits.
The accused have been identified as Bijaya Mohanty and his son, Om Prakash Mohanty, along with two alleged habitual offenders.
Acting on a tip-off, Excise officials intercepted a luxury car in which Bijaya and Om were travelling and seized 262 grams of brown sugar from the vehicle, Excise Superintendent Debasish Patel said.
According to sources, the father and son had allegedly purchased the luxury car using proceeds from the illegal brown sugar trade.
Following the seizure, the Excise team conducted a search at Bijaya Mohanty’s apartment in Mainshikhal Slum. However, the occupants allegedly refused to open the door despite repeated requests by the raiding officials forcing them to break open the door.
The four accused have been arrested under the relevant provisions of the law. Officials said further investigation is underway to trace the source of the seized contraband and identify other persons linked to the alleged drug trafficking network.
