Major Drugs Haul in Agartala: Police recover Yaba tablets of Rs 1 crore plus from lorry

Agartala, Jan 12, 2025, By Our Correspondent302

In a major recovery police seized more than 1.20 lakhs yaba tablets from a cement laden lorry in the city on Sunday morning.  Total value of the narcotics recovered is estimated to be more than Rs one crore. Two persons driver Jamal driver Hussain and Mintu Barman were arrested. The operation carried out by East Agartala Police Station and West Agartala Police station officers in charge was led by SDPO Sadar DP Roy , said SP Dr Kiran Kumar.

The cement laden lorry bearing Nagaland registration number was going to Sonamura from Meghalaya when the police acting on a tip off intercepted it. The narcotics were found in the driver’s cabin.

It may be mentioned here that only on Saturday  Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that in 2024 the NCB and police forces across India seized drugs valued at Rs 16,914 crore -- the highest since Independence.  He was speaking at the regional conference on ‘Drug Trafficking and National Security’. Shah said between 2004 and 2014, 3.63 lakh kg of drugs was seized, which increased seven-fold to 24 lakh kg in 10 years from 2014 to 2024. He said the value of drugs destroyed in the 10 years between 2004 and 2014 was Rs 8,150 crore, which has increased seven-fold to Rs 56,861 crore in the last 10 years. The objective of the conference, organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau, was to focus on tackling the growing concern about drug trafficking and its impact on national security, with a special focus on eight states and the Union Territories of northern India.

HM Shah also launched the Drug Disposal Fortnight and inaugurated the new office complex of Bhopal Zonal Unit of the NCB and extension of MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and Union Territories. The ‘Drug Disposal Fortnight’ is dedicated to the destruction of confiscated narcotics. As part of this campaign, 1 lakh kg of narcotics valued at approximately Rs 8,600 crore will be destroyed over the next 10 days. He  emphasised the need for a comprehensive, 360-degree "Whole of Government" approach to achieve total victory in the fight against drugs.