​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, November 22 Bhubaneswar Court has sentenced three inter-state drug peddlers to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The conviction was handed down by the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Judge, who found the accused guilty under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The convicted individuals—Vijay Bhan, Suraj Pal, and Surendra—were charged under sections 18(b), 25, 28, and 29 of the NDPS Act for their involvement in the illegal trafficking of narcotic substances.

The case dates back to August 13, 2021, when officers from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Bhubaneswar, apprehended the three men with 20 kilograms of opium. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that they were part of an interstate drug trafficking network. The opium had been concealed in a specially designed cavity inside the driver's cabin of a truck.

In February 2022, a charge sheet was filed against the three men, and the truck used for smuggling the opium was seized. After a lengthy legal battle, the accused were sentenced on November 20, with the court imposing rigorous imprisonment and a substantial fine. The NCB Bhubaneswar Zonal Unit played a key role in securing the conviction, successfully dismantling the trafficking operation.