Agartala: April 26: In two separate operations at Agartala railway station, authorities seized 14 kilograms of cannabis and detained six individuals, including five Indian touts and one Bangladeshi citizen, in a significant crackdown on drug trafficking and illegal immigration. The operations were led by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), following a tip-off regarding suspicious activities at the station.
GRP officer-in-charge Tapas Das confirmed that the intelligence received indicated that a group, including a Bangladeshi national, was planning to exit the state via train. Acting swiftly, GRP and BSF personnel set up surveillance and apprehended the suspects upon their arrival at the station. During interrogation, the Bangladeshi individual confessed to illegally entering Tripura, while the Indian touts were allegedly aiding in the illegal cross-border movement, pointing to a potential human trafficking network. A formal case has been registered, and a deeper investigation is now underway.
In a related incident the previous day, the GRP recovered 14 kilograms of cannabis at the same railway station during another anti-drug operation. However, unlike the latest case, no arrests were made during that seizure, and the investigation into the source and intended recipients of the contraband is ongoing.
These back-to-back operations highlight the persistent challenges Tripura faces due to its porous international border with Bangladesh. Authorities have intensified vigilance at key transit points like Agartala railway station to curb the trafficking of narcotics and unauthorized cross-border movement. The dual nature of these operations — targeting both drugs and illegal immigration — underscores the complex web of criminal activities prevalent in the region. As investigations continue, law enforcement agencies are expected to tighten surveillance and coordination to dismantle these networks effectively.
