Bhubaneswar, June 1 -- In a major breakthrough against narcotics trafficking, Jagatsinghpur Police on Monday successfully busted a brown sugar racket, seizing more than 277 grams of the contraband and arresting five individuals, including a woman allegedly heading the syndicate.

Acting on credible intelligence, the police conducted a targeted raid near Maa Khandulai Temple in Jashobantpur, under Jagatsinghpur Sadar police limits. During the operation, officers intercepted a vehicle and recovered the brown sugar from the accused.

The alleged kingpin of the racket has been identified as Tara Sharma, a resident of Haldipadia slum in the Laxmisagar area of Bhubaneswar. Of the remaining four accused, one hails from Puri district, while the o...