In a major success against interstate narcotics trafficking, police at the Churaibari check gate along the Assam–Tripura border seized a huge consignment of banned cough syrup worth nearly Rs 50 lakh in the black market and arrested a truck driver allegedly involved in the smuggling operation.
The seizure was made around noon on Wednesday during a routine inspection at the Churaibari check gate under Bazaarichara Police Station. A 12-wheeler truck bearing registration number PB08CX-5608 arrived at the checkpoint and initially appeared to be carrying only sacks of potatoes. However, acting on suspicion, police personnel conducted a thorough search of the vehicle.
During the inspection, officers discovered a concealed cache of banned codeine-phosphate-based Eskuf cough syrup hidden beneath the potato sacks. A total of 92 cartons containing 14,100 bottles of the prohibited syrup were recovered from the truck.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Punjab, was immediately taken into custody. During preliminary questioning, Kumar claimed that he had been transporting a consignment of potatoes from Siliguri in West Bengal to Agartala in Tripura. However, investigators suspect that the cough syrup was being smuggled into Tripura for illegal distribution through a wider narcotics network.
Police officials said the market value of the seized contraband is estimated to be around Rs 50 lakh, making it one of the significant narcotics recoveries in the region in recent times. The entire consignment has been confiscated and brought under official custody for further investigation.
Officer-in-Charge of Bazaarichara Police Station, Niranjan Das, has initiated a detailed probe into the case. Investigators are now working to trace the source of the consignment, identify the intended recipients, and uncover the larger network involved in transporting and distributing the banned substance across state borders.
A case has been registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities stated that efforts are being intensified to dismantle the trafficking syndicate and prevent the flow of narcotics into the state.
The seizure highlights the vigilance of law enforcement agencies at interstate checkpoints and their continued commitment to combating drug trafficking and protecting communities from the menace of substance abuse.
