According to sources, the Excise department was informed that the arrested person, Sunil Kumar Bhutia of Ora Sahi on the outskirts of Talcher, was peddling drugs. The Excise officials had kept a watch on his movement.

On Sunday evening, they suspected the movement of Sunil in the locality and apprehended him. During search, they found brown sugar weighing 41 gram from his possession. The seized contraband would cost more than Rs 4 lakh and 10 thousand, the sources said.

The Excise officials arrested Sunil and forwarded him to court. They have also started investigation to ascertain the source of brown sugar.