03-06-2025
3 inter-state drug peddlers arrested in Keonjhar
Keonjhar: In a major drugs bust, police arrested three inter-state drug peddlers from Jharkhand and seized over 50 kg of poppy straw in Keonjhar district's Barbil on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Pawan Mohato (53) from Kalaguju village, Bholanath Mandal (26) from Kera village, and Suru Das (50) from Jhikpani Gududihutting, were apprehended near Belkundi football ground where they were waiting to sell the contraband to local peddlers.
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Police also recovered Rs 1,000 in cash and a mobile phone from them.
Acting on reliable intelligence, local police conducted a raid in the presence of tehsildar-cum-executive magistrate, Barbil, leading to the arrests under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Investigation revealed the accused sourced poppy straw from Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. However, recent trends indicated that cultivation has spread to rural areas of Jharkhand and Bihar, with truck drivers being the primary consumers.
"Further investigation is underway to identify and apprehend other members of the drug racket. We will take strict action against all peddlers," said IIC of Barbil police station, Ashok Nayak.
