Jaleswar Police apprehended notorious drug dealer Sheikh Samiruddin, known as Taklu, on Monday in the Jhadeswar area of Balasore district. He was arrested at a hotel, where authorities seized brown sugar valued at approximately ₹30 lakh from him.
Taklu is suspected of smuggling narcotics from neighboring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, and distributing them throughout Odisha. Law enforcement agencies have ramped up their efforts to combat the illegal brown sugar trade, having registered 19 cases and arrested 25 individuals last year. In just one month of the current year, seven arrests have been made across four separate cases.
The intelligence department is actively monitoring the situation, setting up multiple checkpoints along the borders to intercept smuggling activities. Balasore SP Raj Prasad stated, “We are closely observing the illicit drug trade through inter-state coordination meetings and have established Naka check-posts. We aim to dismantle these cartels soon.”
Although Odisha does not produce brown sugar, its distribution has become widespread, particularly in areas like Arada Bazaar and Jaleswar in Balasore district. This issue has escalated to a level comparable to a cottage industry, significantly affecting youth, especially college students who are increasingly falling into drug addiction.
The brown sugar trade has positioned Balasore as a central hub for drug operations, with transactions exceeding ₹30 crore. Common trafficking routes include roads, waterways, and railways, particularly through Bangaon in West Bengal into Odisha.
Balasore Excise Superintendent Sushant Padhi noted that “brown sugar is entering the district via West Bengal, with many youngsters involved in this illegal trade.”
Concerns are rising regarding the Excise Department’s effectiveness in breaking these supply chains. Community leaders express alarm over how mafia groups equipped with advanced weaponry seem to outmatch law enforcement agencies, which struggle to respond effectively.
