Cuttack, Sep 7: In a major crackdown on narcotics, the State Excise Department’s Flying Squad and Commissionerate Police conducted multiple raids across Cuttack on Sunday, seizing brown sugar and heroin worth over ₹50 lakh and arresting three individuals.

The most significant seizure occurred near Manguli Square, where the Flying Squad apprehended Jagannath Jena and confiscated 385 grams of brown sugar valued at ₹38.5 lakh. The operation was part of a targeted raid based on intelligence inputs regarding drug trafficking in the area.

Earlier in the day, Malgodown Police arrested two drug peddlers — Bhagirathi Nayak and Sudhakar Moharana — from the Jobra Mahanadi riverbank. The duo, hailing from Nuagaon in Jagatsinghpur district, were found in possession of 32 grams of brown sugar, estimated to be worth over ₹3 lakh. Police also seized two mobile phones and a motorcycle from the accused.

Commissionerate Police revealed that Bhagirathi Nayak, also known as Bula, has nine criminal cases registered against him across Nuagaon, Govindpur, Gurudijhatia, and Niali police stations. His arrest is considered a major breakthrough in disrupting local drug networks.

In a parallel operation, the Excise Department raided two locations in the CDA area and seized heroin worth ₹12 lakh. These coordinated efforts reflect the growing intensity of anti-narcotics enforcement in the region.

Officials stated that further investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and identify other members of the drug syndicate.