Bhubaneswar, July 7: The Odisha Excise Department on Tuesday busted an alleged brown sugar trafficking racket in Bhubaneswar and arrested four persons, including a father-son duo, during a special operation in the Mainshikhal Basti area under the Badagada police station limits.

The accused have been identified as Bijaya Mohanty, his son Om Prakash Mohanty, and two other alleged habitual offenders. Acting on a specific intelligence input, officials intercepted a luxury car in which Bijaya and Om were travelling and recovered 262 grams of brown sugar from the vehicle.

Excise Superintendent Debasish Patel said the seizure was made during a targeted raid based on credible information. Preliminary investigation suggests that the father and son had allegedly purchased the luxury car using proceeds generated from the illegal narcotics trade.

Following the seizure, the Excise team conducted a search at Bijaya Mohanty's apartment in the Mainshikhal Slum area. Officials alleged that the occupants refused to open the door despite repeated requests, forcing the raiding team to break open the entrance and carry out the search.

All four accused have been arrested under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The seized brown sugar has been sent for examination, while investigators are probing the source of the contraband and the extent of the alleged drug trafficking network.

Officials said efforts are underway to identify other persons involved in the racket and determine whether the accused have links with interstate narcotics suppliers. Further investigation is in progress.

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