Brown Sugar Worth ₹15 Lakh Seized from Khordha Factory; Two Held

Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics, the Excise Department seized 150 grams of brown sugar from a mixture (savouries) factory in Bhatapada, under Begunia Block of Khordha district, during a raid conducted on Thursday. The seized contraband is estimated to be worth ₹15 lakh.

Acting on a tip-off, Excise officials raided the factory premises and recovered the banned substance. A businessman and an employee of the unit were arrested and are currently under interrogation as part of a broader investigation into possible drug trafficking networks operating in the region.

The arrests, however, sparked tensions outside the Khordha Excise Office, with local villagers staging a protest. They alleged that the brown sugar was planted as part of a conspiracy to falsely implicate the factory owner.

While Excise officials have yet to formally respond to these allegations, they confirmed that an in-depth probe is underway to trace the source and supply chain behind the narcotics.

The incident has brought to light increasing concerns over the use of rural and semi-urban commercial spaces for illegal drug trade in Odisha, prompting calls for stronger surveillance and enforcement.