Bhubaneswar: Brown sugar trafficking continues to pose a serious challenge in Odisha, with police data showing a sharp increase in seizures and arrests over the past year.According to official figures, around 9.2 kg of the contraband worth nearly Rs 9 crore was seized across the state in 2024. The quantity doubled in 2025, with 18 kg worth Rs 18 crore recovered. Arrests also surged from 339 in 2024 to 719 in 2025, showing the escalation of the illicit trade. “We registered 267 cases in 2024, which rose to 352 last year,” a crime branch officer said.Police sources say most consignments are smuggled into Odisha from West Bengal’s Murshidabad, Nadia, and Bardhaman districts, entering through Dantan in Paschim Medinipur before being routed to Jaleswar in Balasore and distributed statewide.Anti-drug campaigners warn that the rising number of cases, seizures, and arrests reflects an alarming trend. “It is the tip of the iceberg. Enforcement agencies are largely targetting small-time carriers and peddlers while major cartels remain untouched. Youth, including students, professionals, and businessmen in Bhubaneswar, are said to be the primary consumers,” said Kulamani Swain, a campaigner.Police authorities, however, maintain that sustained crackdowns have reduced overall supply. “Five years ago, seizures were far higher—around 49 kg each in 2021 and 2022. The numbers have since declined due to frequent raids and arrests,” the crime branch officer said.In Bhubaneswar alone, police seized 3.2 kg of brown sugar and arrested 106 peddlers in 2025. “Hotspots near educational institutions have been identified, and local police stations have been instructed to launch intelligence-based operations. Interstate coordination and border patrolling have been intensified,” the officer said.Director general of police Y B Khurania recently announced a three-year special drive beginning April 1, 2026, with an aim to make Odisha drug-free. The campaign will target ganja, brown sugar, and other narcotics. Financial investigations are also underway to confiscate traffickers’ assets. “Our focus is to break the financial backbone of smugglers,” Khurania said, adding that proposals for preventive detention of drug traffickers under the he Provisions of Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988 have been submitted to the govt.
