Berhampur, Sept 11: In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics and liquor trade, the district excise department has seized a significant quantity of brown sugar and fake foreign liquor from various parts of Berhampur. Four individuals- including a mother and her son- have been arrested in connection with the bust, and two scooters used in the illegal trade have also been seized.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the excise officials launched multiple raids on Wednesday as part of Operation Prahar, a state-wide campaign targeting the illegal narcotics and liquor network.

In three separate brown sugar cases, a total of 142 grams of the contraband was seized. The arrested individuals have been identified as Babu Dalai (23), S. Narayan Patra (45), and Sandhyarani Satapathy (45)- all residents of the Badabazar police limits. Raids conducted near the MKCG Medical College and Hospital campus led to the seizure of 41 grams of brown sugar from Babu and 44 grams from Narayan.

Further investigation led the excise team to Haridakhandi’s Kailash Nagar, where a raid was conducted at the residence of Sandhyarani Satapathy. Officials recovered an additional 57 grams of brown sugar from her possession.

During the same operation, Sandhyarani’s son, Swaraj Satapathy, was found to be running an illegal unit manufacturing and selling fake foreign liquor from the same premises. Officials seized 20 litres of adulterated liquor, 1 litre of caramel, and several other materials used in its production.

Excise Superintendent Praveen Pradhan confirmed that all four accused will be produced before the court on Thursday afternoon. He also reiterated the department’s commitment to continue the crackdown on the illegal trade of narcotics and alcohol across the district.