Balasore: In a major crackdown Tuesday evening, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch seized around 1.5 kg of brown sugar from a person in Balasore district.
The approximate market value of the contraband is estimated to be over Rs 1 crore, an official informed.
The peddler arrested in this connection was identified as SK Munaf Hussein of Jhadeswar area under Jaleswar police limits in the district.
Acting on a tip-off, the STF team conducted raid on a house near Laxmannath check gate on NH-16 leading to the arrest. The drug peddler was caught red-handed while on a deal of the contraband.
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As Hussein could not produce any valid document in support of possessing the contraband item, he was arrested and forwarded to the District and Sessions Judge Court in Balasore district.
A case in this regard was registered by the STF under various Sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Notably, the State police have intensified its anti-narcotics operations all over Odisha in the last few months. The STF has conducted raids at different places and registered cases against seven drug peddlers.
PNN