Special Task Force (STF) arrested college student for possessing brown sugar worth over Rs 1cr

Puri: The Odisha Crime Branch’s Special Task Force (STF) successfully confiscated approximately 1.060 kilograms of brown sugar during a raid near JIO Petrol Pump in Nimapada town, Puri district, yesterday. A drug peddler was arrested in connection with the incident, as announced by STF Superintendent of Police (SP) Kishore Kumar Panigrahi in a press conference today. The estimated value of the seized drugs is around Rs 1 crore, according to an official source.

The individual involved, identified as Sujit, is a first-year Physics student in a Puri college. He was caught negotiating the sale of brown sugar with a potential buyer. Acting on intelligence input, a STF-Bhubaneswar team conducted a nighttime raid targeting illegal activities related to narcotic drugs. The 24-year-old drug peddler, Sujit Kumar Mohanty alias Papulu, was taken into custody. Sujit is the son of Pradip Kumar Mohanty from Gualapada village under Nimapada Town police.

Upon thorough inspection, 1 kg and 60 grams of brown sugar (Heroin), along with various other incriminating materials, were discovered and seized from Sujit’s possession. Since the accused failed to provide any valid authorization for possessing such contraband materials, he was arrested and will be presented before the court of Dist & Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge, Puri.

In connection with this incident, a case (STF PS Case No-1, Dated 6.1.2024, U/s 21(c) of NDPS Act, 1985) has been registered. A comprehensive investigation into the drug smuggling activities is currently underway, as indicated by official sources.