Police seized 14,100 bottles of banned cough syrup worth around Rs 50 lakh from a truck carrying potatoes at the Churaibari check gate on the Assam-Tripura border. The contraband was hidden beneath potato sacks. The truck driver from Punjab was arrested, and an investigation is underway.
In a major crackdown on illegal narcotics trafficking, police seized 14,100 bottles of banned cough syrup concealed inside a truck transporting potatoes at the Churaibari check gate along the Assam-Tripura border. The operation led to the arrest of the truck driver and exposed yet another attempt to smuggle contraband substances into the region.
According to officials, the seizure took place during a routine inspection conducted by security personnel stationed at the strategically important Churaibari check gate. The vehicle involved, a 12-wheeler truck bearing Punjab registration number PB-08CX-5608, was intercepted for verification as part of regular border surveillance measures.
During the inspection, officers reportedly noticed suspicious circumstances surrounding the vehicle and decided to conduct a detailed search. Although the truck appeared to be carrying sacks of potatoes, police discovered several cartons hidden beneath the agricultural produce.
Upon unloading and examining the concealed cargo, authorities recovered 92 cartons containing 14,100 bottles of banned cough syrup. Preliminary estimates suggest that the seized contraband had an illegal market value of approximately Rs 50 lakh.
Police immediately took the truck driver, identified as Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Punjab, into custody. During initial interrogation, Kumar informed investigators that he was transporting a consignment of potatoes from Siliguri in West Bengal to Agartala in Tripura. However, authorities suspect that the banned cough syrup was being smuggled under the cover of the legitimate cargo.
Officials stated that the seizure reflects the growing use of commercial transport vehicles for trafficking prohibited substances across state borders. The Churaibari check gate has previously served as a critical checkpoint in intercepting illegal consignments entering Tripura.
Law enforcement agencies have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the origin of the contraband, identify the intended recipients, and uncover any larger network involved in the smuggling operation. Police are also examining whether additional individuals were connected to the transportation and distribution of the banned syrup.
| Also Read: Congress MLA Raises Questions, Forest Procurement Cancelled |
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening border surveillance and intensifying anti-smuggling operations to curb the illegal trade of narcotic and psychotropic substances in the region. Further investigation into the case is currently underway.
