Bhubaneswar- In a major breakthrough in the fight against narcotics, Maitri Vihar Police in Bhubaneswar arrested five individuals on Wednesday and seized brown sugar valued at more than Rs25 lakh. The arrest was made during a special anti-drug operation carried out by the Commissionerate Police as part of their ongoing crackdown in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.
A total of 254 grams of brown sugar was recovered, along with three motorcycles and ₹3,500 in cash. The arrested individuals have been identified as Sampad Kumar Das (43), Sibananda Mohapatra (30), Mallick Saeed Ali (61), Sadasiba Jagdeb (32), and Rajendra Mohapatra (25). All are residents of Bhubaneswar and surrounding areas.
Police sources revealed that two of the accused—Rajendra and Sibananda—are repeat offenders with previous cases related to drug trafficking and theft, hinting at the presence of a recurring criminal network. A case has been registered under Section 21(C) of the NDPS Act.
Preliminary investigations suggest the existence of a well-organised drug supply chain. Authorities are currently probing deeper to identify larger links within the trafficking network.
Notably, a similar arrest took place in March this year when Maitri Vihar Police apprehended five individuals near Hatiasuni, seizing 270 grams of brown sugar worth Rs27 lakh, along with a car, a two-wheeler, and mobile phones.
