Bhubaneswar: In a bid to crack down on the illegal drug trade near educational institutions, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police, in coordination with the Commissionerate Police, launched a series of surprise raids across key student hubs in the city on Tuesday.
The operation focused primarily on the Patia, KIIT Road, and Khandagiri areas—locales that host some of Bhubaneswar’s largest universities and colleges. Acting on credible intelligence, STF teams targeted small paan shops, eateries, and kiosks suspected of peddling brown sugar and ganja to students.
The raids, conducted jointly with the Infocity Police, were prompted by tip-offs about vendors allegedly selling narcotics hidden in cigarette packs and gutka sachets, codenamed “GOGO.”
According to STF officials, these substances were being discreetly distributed to unsuspecting youth and students in the vicinity of university campuses.
“We have seized a large quantity of narcotics during the operation. Several shopkeepers have been detained for questioning, and two to three vendors are currently being interrogated. They will be handed over to Infocity Police for further investigation,” said an STF Deputy Superintendent of Police.
During the coordinated search operations, forensic samples were collected from various locations. Officials indicated that the raids have led to critical leads in uncovering a larger drug supply network aimed at vulnerable student communities.
This marks a continuation of law enforcement’s heightened focus on campus-adjacent areas. Just days earlier, the Special Crime Unit had conducted a similar operation, signaling an intensified and systematic effort to protect students from the menace of drug abuse—particularly with college elections approaching and campus activity surging.
Authorities have reiterated their zero-tolerance stance on drug peddling and confirmed that routine checks will be intensified in student-dense localities to prevent the spread of addiction among the youth.
