More than 2 tonnes of smuggled copper and brass scrap, worth over Rs 8 lakh, were seized while being transported from Kuakhia bazaar in Odisha's jajpur district to Kolkata, police said today.
"Getting a tip off we conducted a raid at a house located in Kuakhia bus stop on Wednesday night. The smuggled non-ferrous metal scraps were packed in 26 gunny bags and kept in the house to be sent to Kolkata by bus," said Madhusmita Mohanty, inspector-in-charge of Kuakhia police station.
Police said these non-ferrous metal scraps are being stolen from various industries in Kalinga Nagar area and being transported in an unauthorised manner to Kolkata by the smugglers.
"Most of the smuggled non-ferrous metal scraps are being transported to Kolkata by buses. We will conduct raids on the buses to prevent such crimes," she said.
Police have detained two suspects in this connection.
"We suspect three or more local people are involved in this illegal trade. We are probing the matter on all angels and would arrest the accused soon," she said.
Jajpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Anup Kumar Sahu has visited the spot. Investigation is being carried out under the guidance of the SP, police said.
