CUTTACK: In a major haul, the Excise Intelligence and Enforcement Bureau (EIEB) sleuths on Friday busted an inter-State opium racket and seized poppy straw worth Rs12 lakh from Puri railway station.
Two peddlers, Jagannath Pal (33) and Shibu Guha (50), have been arrested from the railway station. Both of them hailed from Beldah area in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. According to Excise sources, the special squad acted on a tip-off about a huge delivery set to land at Puri. They had been keeping a strict watch on the pilgrim city. While all the entry points were under vigil, the consignment landed at the Puri railway station on Friday morning.
The poppy straws were packed in about 17 gunny bangs and weighed around 6.50 quintals. They were kept near the Parcel house of the railway station. The two __ Pal and Guha __ were seen guarding the bags. A decoy was sent to identify them and as he gave the signal, the Excise sleuths, led by EIEB officer Amar Jena, along with GRP and RPF, swooped down and took them into custody.
Poppy straw is used as a narcotic substance, mostly as a substitute for opium. It is either consumed or boiled and taken as tea to get an intoxicating effect.
Excise sources said the duo had been involved in the illegal trade and supply of the narcotic substance for a long time. In fact, they were the biggest suppliers to Balasore, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Puri districts. They used to bring the substance by train in connivance with some unscrupulous elements in the Railways.
The poppy straw was reportedly procured from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and supplied to the eastern states like Odisha through West Bengal.