Kendrapara, April 18: Police today arrested two persons and busted a gang of truck-lifters, who used to operate on the highways in the state.

The gang members used to flee with trucks parked at lonely places on the national and state highways after drugging the drivers and their helpers. Preliminary interrogation has revealed their involvement in at least 12 truck-lifting cases. The number can be much more, the police said.

“Two members of the gang — Naresh Nayak and Sanjay Sahu — have been taken into custody. The duo ran the racket with a gang of accomplices,” said Kendrapara rural police station inspector Tapas Pradhan.

A truck stolen by the duo was recovered from them. The police are on the look out for their accomplices. The stolen truck was carrying nearly Rs 7 lakh worth liquor. The liquor cases were also recovered.

The gang members used to dispose of the vehicles and goods elsewhere in the state. The gang used to target trucks carrying valuable cargo.

“The gang was meticulously executing their plan. They used to target truck drivers, who stopped at roadside eateries. Then they made friends with them. While eating, they used to lace the food with sedatives. When the victims lost consciousness, they fled with the trucks,” Pradhan said.

The stolen trucks are refurbished and given new look in garages owned by the gang. Armed with fake registration numbers, the stolen trucks are driven to Bengal and Jharkhand for its resale. Skilled lorry drivers are also part of racket, said a police official, heading the investigating team.

The police said the racket with its well-oiled network operated in the suburbs of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Chandikhole, Keonjhar, Berhampur, Balasore, Rairangpur, Tangi and Paradip.