In a major success in the crackdown against illegal narcotics trade in the State, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch seized more than one kg of brown sugar near Rasulgarh in Bhubaneswar and arrested two inter-State drug peddlers in this connection on Monday.
The market value of the seized contraband is more than Rs 1 crore.
The arrested peddlers were identified as Rakibul Laskar (30) and Sudhanya Gayen (44), both natives of West Bengal.
On the basis of intelligence inputs, a raid was conducted by an STF team, which zeroed down on the drug peddlers while they were striking a deal.
During search, brown sugar weighing 1.025 kg and other incriminating materials were recovered and seized from the possession of the duo. As they could not produce any valid documents in support of possession of the contraband, the accused were arrested. They were forwarded to the court of Bhubaneswar District and Sessions Judge. A case under Section 21(c)/29 of the NDPS Act has been registered against the two.
During preliminary investigation, West Bengal link as well as inter-State ramification has been established. Efforts were on to nab others involved in the racket, the STF said.
