Bhubaneswar : Under the special drive to nab the anti-socials involved in illegal trafficking and trade of cough syrups and other narcotic substances, launched by Bargarh police last month, three persons were arrested today, and a huge quantity of contraband was seized.
During the drive, led by officers and staff of Padampur police station, three persons – Gunanidhi Sahu (35) of Padampur, Bhrugapati Bhue (30) of Attabira, and Rakesh Naik (42) of Padampur, have been arrested. An accused in this case happens to be a child in conflict with law (CCL), and he will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, the police stated.
The special drive, launched by Bargarh SP Prahalad Meena in February, this year, has busted drug trafficking gangs in the western Odisha district.
Padampur police blocked the Gaisilet – Padampur road and intercepted a pick-up vehicle loaded with school notebooks. On checking of the waybill of the cargo, it was understood that the load was transported from Cuttack to Bargarh Town.
“However, there were 2,560 (100 ml) cough syrup bottles and 6,000 pentazocine lactate injections loaded along with the school notebooks in the vehicle. Cash of Rs 30,170 was also seized from the possession of the accused,” Meena said.
“During investigation the accused revealed that Rakesh Sahu and Fakira Khan of Padampur are the kingpins of illegal trade of cough syrup and injections in the district,” the police said.
