Bhubaneswar: The Crime Branch special task force (STF) Monday arrested three brown sugar smugglers from Pitapalli old toll plaza area in Khurdha district.
The accused have been identified as Sheikh Azbahar of Jaleswar area in Balasore district, Sheikh Azad alias Nalu of Maheswarpur police limits in Medinapur district of West Bengal and Ramakanta Sahoo alias Tulu of Chandanpur police limit in Puri district.
As much as 130 grams of brown sugar were seized from them. Besides, a pistol along with two live bullets was also seized.
Acting on a tip-off, STF officer Alok Kumar Jena formed a team that stopped the car the smugglers were travelling in near the toll plaza. During the check, the brown sugar and the well-concealed firearm were seized.
A case has been registered under case no. 12/19 in this context. All three were produced in court and were remanded to judicial custody after their bail pleas were rejected.
PNN