Bhubaneswar, Dec 21 (Representative) A Special Task Force (STF) team of the Odisha crime branch has arrested two drug peddlers and seized 1.9 kg of brown sugar worth over Rs one crore and other incriminating materials from their possession, STF sources said on Tuesday. The sources here said acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted near village Ghatipiri under Dhenkanal Sadar Police station in Dhenkanal district on December 20. During the raid, two people were arrested and the contraband goods were seized from them. The STF identified the accused as Rakesh Kumar Sahoo alias Kalu/Raka, of Godidihi, Balaram Prasad under Motanga Police station, and Santhosh Kumar Sahoo alias Santa, of Gadasila village under Sadar Police station of Dhenkanal district.
During the search, brown Sugar weighing 1.09 kg and other incriminating materials were recovered and seized from their possession. The accused persons were arrested and would be forwarded to the court of Special Judge cum District & Sessions Judge, Dhenkanal. A case was registered Under section 21(c)/29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation was on. Since 2020, STF in its special drive against narcotic drugs has seized more than 44 Kg of brown Sugar and more than 86.81 quintals of Ganja.