Bhubaneswar, Oct 13: In five months – from April to August 2023 - the excise department has seized only 1.203 kg brown sugar from Bhubaneswar.
During this period, the excise department has registered 38 cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act with arrest of 38 peddlers. The department has seized 154 kg ganja and 1.203 kg brown sugar.
However, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police has seized 3 kg brown sugar and Special Squad of Bhubaneswar Commissionerate police has seized 2 kg brown sugar and over 3 quintal ganja during this period.
Similarly, in 2022-23 financial year Bhubaneswar excise department registered 64 NDPS cases and arrested 65 peddlers with seizure of 3065 kg ganja and 1.700 kg brown sugar. On the other hand, Special Squad of Bhubaneswar Commissionerate police seized 3 kg brown sugar and 4 quintal ganja during the last financial year.
A senior official of the excise department has blamed shortage of staff and informer for failure in tracking drug peddlers.
