Crackdown on Drugs Trades in Tripura by Enforcement Directorate-UPDATED
Agartala, Jan 10, 2025, By Our Correspondent87
In a meticulously planned operation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted sweeping raids across Tripura on Friday, targeting suspected kingpins of drug trafficking and money laundering. The simultaneous raids, carried out in the early hours, marked a significant attempt to dismantle a sophisticated and entrenched nexus operating within the state. The operation was supported by approximately 250 security personnel, including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans, who ensured the process ran smoothly.
While the ED has not officially disclosed the findings or confirmed any arrests, sources indicated that the operation focused on key players in the drug trade. Raids were conducted at the residences of several high-profile individuals, including Apu Ranjan Das, Deb Brata Dey, Bishu Tripura, Kamini Debbarma, Tapas Debnath, Dhruba Majumder, and Litan Saha, across the districts of West Tripura, South Tripura, and Sepahijala.
Among those targeted, Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police Dhruba Majumder, currently posted in the Crime Branch under the Superintendent of Police in South Tripura, is believed to play a pivotal role in the network. Majumder, a resident of Baikhora, has allegedly been instrumental in facilitating drug trafficking operations within the state.
Sources also revealed that the investigation unearthed links to officials from a prominent bank, suggesting their involvement in enabling suspicious financial transactions tied to the drug trade. ED officials reportedly seized digital evidence, financial records, and other materials that could prove vital in unraveling the intricate web of drug trafficking and money laundering.
Tripura has long been a hotspot for narcotics activity, serving as a key producer of ganja (marijuana) and a transit point for smuggling synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine yaba tablets. This is the first large-scale operation by the ED aimed at dismantling the state’s drug trafficking network.
According to insiders, these networks often exploit unemployed and semi-educated youths to carry out their operations. The recent raids are seen as an effort to curtail such exploitative practices and hold the masterminds accountable.
The ED’s crackdown is reminiscent of similar raids conducted before the 2023 Assembly elections in West Tripura and Sepahijala districts, which led to the discovery of bank deposit records amounting to ₹2 crore. These earlier findings underscored the scale of financial malpractices intertwined with the state’s drug trade.
The agency's latest actions have exposed the involvement of several high-profile individuals who had managed to evade scrutiny until now. The ED is focusing on analyzing the evidence collected during the raids, including financial trails and operational documents, to bring the culprits to justice.
This operation is widely regarded as a crucial step toward addressing Tripura’s drug trafficking crisis and combating the associated financial crimes that have deeply impacted the region. Further developments are awaited as the investigation unfolds.