Security forces in Tripura seized 90,000 bottles of banned Eskuf Cough Syrup worth Rs 4.5 crore from a goods train at Jirania railway station, marking a major success in the ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking across Northeast India.
In one of the largest anti-narcotics operations in recent months, security forces in Tripura have seized 90,000 bottles of banned Eskuf Cough Syrup valued at around Rs 4.5 crore from a goods train arriving from Delhi. Officials confirmed that the operation was carried out late Thursday night at Jirania Railway Station in West Tripura district.
According to a senior official, the seizure followed specific intelligence input indicating the movement of banned pharmaceutical drugs hidden inside a goods train. Acting swiftly, a joint team comprising Tripura Police, Assam Rifles, the Government Railway Police (GRP), the Special Task Force (STF), and the Customs Department launched a coordinated search of the train.
The train, which had arrived from Delhi carrying cargo such as rice, chicken feed, and other goods, was thoroughly inspected. During the search, two wagons were found carrying boxes that were unclaimed and concealed beneath legitimate cargo materials. Upon opening the packages, the security forces discovered thousands of bottles of Eskuf Cough Syrup, which contains Codeine Phosphate and Triprolidine Hydrochloride, both regulated substances under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Illegal Drug Market Targeted
Officials said the seized Eskuf bottles were likely intended for smuggling into Bangladesh, where such codeine-based syrups are in high demand among drug abusers. “The total market value of the recovered drugs is estimated at Rs 4.5 crore,” the senior official stated, adding that the discovery marks a major success in Tripura’s ongoing war against narcotic smuggling.
The use and distribution of Eskuf Cough Syrup have been banned in India due to its potential for abuse as a narcotic substance. Despite the prohibition, large quantities continue to be trafficked across India’s northeastern region, particularly into border districts that share porous boundaries with Bangladesh.
Joint Forces Operation
The official noted that the joint operation reflected strong coordination between multiple enforcement agencies. “The intelligence inputs were immediately shared among the agencies, and a well-planned search was conducted before the consignment could be moved further,” he said.
Security forces spent several hours combing through the cargo, eventually discovering the illicit consignment. Following the seizure, the Customs Department took custody of the confiscated items for detailed investigation and legal proceedings under the NDPS Act. Further inquiries are underway to identify the individuals or syndicates responsible for dispatching the consignment from Delhi and arranging its transport to Tripura.
Rising Narcotics Threat in Tripura
Tripura has become an emerging hub in the narcotics trafficking network due to its strategic location and proximity to international borders. In recent years, authorities have intensified crackdowns against drug syndicates smuggling heroin, ganja, brown sugar, and codeine-based cough syrups into the state and beyond.
Senior police officials have repeatedly emphasized that drug trafficking poses a severe threat to youth and public health. Several awareness and enforcement drives are being conducted under the state’s “Nasha Mukt Tripura Abhiyan” (Drug-Free Tripura Campaign), aimed at eradicating the menace of narcotics from society.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Action
Authorities said the current seizure has exposed a well-organized supply chain stretching across states. “We are tracing the origin of the consignment and the network of transporters and receivers who were supposed to handle the goods once they reached Tripura,” the official added. Investigators suspect that the banned syrup was loaded onto the goods train under the guise of legal cargo, using fake documentation.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have strengthened surveillance at key transit points, railway stations, and inter-state check posts to prevent similar trafficking attempts.
“The success of this operation is a strong message to drug traffickers that Tripura is no longer a safe route for illegal narcotics,” said a senior Customs officer. “We will continue to pursue such cases with full force to dismantle the networks behind them.”
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As the investigation progresses, authorities are hopeful that the operation will lead to the identification and arrest of the masterminds behind the illegal trade. The incident also underscores the need for stricter coordination between states and railway authorities to detect and stop narcotic smuggling through goods trains and cargo networks.
