Police at Churaibari Check Gate on the Assam–Tripura border seized 14,100 bottles of banned Eskuf cough syrup worth nearly Rs 50 lakh hidden beneath potato sacks in a truck. The driver was arrested under the NDPS Act as authorities launched an investigation into the interstate narcotics smuggling network.
In a success against interstate narcotics trafficking, police personnel stationed at the Churaibari Check Gate along the Assam–Tripura border seized a huge consignment of banned cough syrup valued at nearly Rs 50 lakh in the black market. The operation led to the arrest of a truck driver and the registration of a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to police officials, the seizure was made around noon on Wednesday during a routine vehicle inspection at the Churaibari Check Gate, which falls under the jurisdiction of 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 detailed search of the vehicle. During the inspection, officers discovered 92 cartons containing a total of 14,100 bottles of banned codeine-phosphate-based Eskuf cough syrup concealed beneath the potato sacks. The cough syrup, which is frequently misused as an intoxicating substance, has a substantial illegal market value estimated at approximately Rs 50 lakh.
The truck driver, identified as Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Punjab, was immediately taken into custody. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly claimed that he was transporting potatoes from Siliguri to Agartala. However, investigators suspect that the concealed consignment was intended for illegal distribution within Tripura and possibly other northeastern states.
Police sources stated that the recovered narcotics have been confiscated and secured as evidence. Authorities have launched an extensive investigation to trace the source of the contraband and identify the individuals and organizations involved in the smuggling network.
Officer-in-Charge Niranjan Das has initiated a detailed probe into the case. Investigators are examining transport routes, communication records, and other logistical links to uncover the interstate racket behind the trafficking operation.
The seizure is being viewed as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking along the Assam–Tripura border. Law enforcement agencies have intensified surveillance at border checkpoints and reiterated their commitment to dismantling narcotics networks operating across state lines.
| Also Read: Special Puja in Mohanpur Marks PM 12-Year Governance Milestone |
A case has been registered under the NDPS Act, and further investigations are currently underway. Authorities believe the operation could lead to additional arrests and expose a larger drug trafficking syndicate active in the region.
