Brown Sugar Smuggling Racket Allegedly Operated from Khurda Jail

Allegations indicate that the jail has become a central hub for the illegal brown sugar trade, with the entire plan being orchestrated from inside the facility.

Khurda, Odisha- Recent reports have surfaced suggesting that a major brown sugar smuggling operation is being coordinated from within the Khurda jail. Allegations indicate that the jail has become a central hub for the illegal brown sugar trade, with the entire plan being orchestrated from inside the facility.

The smuggling route reportedly runs from West Bengal to Khurda via Jaleswar in the Balasore district. The network operates so efficiently that law enforcement, including the police and Excise department, has struggled to dismantle it. As a result, the major players in the drug trade remain at large, while only minor offenders are being apprehended. This raises the critical question: when will Khurda be liberated from the grip of brown sugar smuggling?

Despite the daily influx of visitors to Khurda district, the smuggling activities continue unabated. This persistent issue begs the question: why are the police and Excise department failing to apprehend the major smugglers? Reports suggest that brown sugar is transported directly from West Bengal to Khurda through Jaleswar and then distributed across the state. This illicit trade has been ongoing for years, and early intervention might have prevented its current widespread impact.

The masterminds behind this smuggling racket evade capture, leaving only the smaller dealers to face the law. Consequently, the illegal business flourishes. Brown sugar smuggling is rampant in areas such as Samantrapur, Gurjung, Dam Sahi, Bhaliabadi, Thengahat, and Jemadei in Khurda. The rise in related crimes, including murder, theft, and robbery, underscores the severity of the situation. Initially targeting youth, the network has now ensnared women and college students.

The pressing questions remain: who is smuggling brown sugar into Khurda, and where is the kingpin behind this network? Despite some arrests, the smuggling racket continues to thrive in Khurda.

Recent allegations point to the blueprint of this illegal trade being managed from within Khurda jail. Despite 24-hour surveillance, numerous mobile phones have been found inside the jail. This discovery came to light after a mobile phone was seized in February, prompting the jailer to file a complaint with the Model police station. The police were reportedly shocked by the Call Detail Record (CDR) report inspection. Following this, six brown sugar traffickers were arrested, and 265 grams of brown sugar were seized.

It is alleged that around 95 prisoners in Khurda jail are involved in the smuggling operation, with over 20 mobile phones confiscated from them. While the jailer declined to comment on camera, he admitted off-camera that due to the jail's location within Khurda town, preventing mobile phones from entering the jail is challenging. He has requested police assistance in this matter.

Despite numerous arrests, many active brown sugar smugglers remain at large in the city.

Brown Sugar Seizure and Arrest Data (Last 4 Years)

2020: 5 kg 136 grams seized, 18 cases registered, 22 men and 3 women arrested.

2021: 1 kg 299 grams seized, 21 cases registered, 32 men and 5 women arrested.

2022: 1 kg 599 grams seized, 37 cases registered, 84 men and 9 women arrested.

2023: 1 kg 975 grams seized, 33 cases registered, 79 men and 2 women arrested.

2024 (so far): 291 grams seized, 3 cases registered, 8 men arrested.

Crimes linked to illegal brown sugar deals, including murder, theft, and robbery, continue to rise. While Khurda police and the Excise department strive to eradicate this racket, success remains elusive.

There is speculation that two rival gangs, led by individuals named Paku and Sanju, were managing the brown sugar smuggling operations in Khurda. Following Paku’s murder by Sanju last year, Sanju and his gang have been imprisoned in Khurda Jail. Allegations suggest they continue to run the illegal network from within the jail. Recent arrests and the seizure of a mobile phone have led to further detentions as the police investigation progresses.