Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 18:

In a major haul, Intelligence Wing of the Central Excise department today seized brown sugar valued at Rs 10 lakh from Haladipadia basti in the Odisha capital and arrested five persons in this connection.

haladipadia-brown-sugar-arrest

“On being tipped about brown sugar business in the basti we conducted a raid and have seized 80-90 gram of the contraband. We have arrested five persons. The arrested youths are aged between 20-25 years. Soon others involved in this illicit trade will be arrested,” informed Amarendra Jena, an officer of the Intelligence Wing of the Central Excise department.

“Since this trade is very profitable, every household in Haldipadia does this business. Starting from girls to women all are involved in this trade,” said Papu Naik, one of the arrested.

According to departmental sources, brown sugar is smuggled to Bhubaneswar from Kolkata and Jaleswar by train.

A packet of brown sugar procured at Rs 50 sells for Rs 120 and another variety of the contraband called ‘godi brown sugar’ locally, which is procured at Rs 150 a packet sells at Rs 350 in the local market, the sources added.