Assam police seize illicit cough syrup worth Rs 10 cr from Assam-Tripura border, 2 arrested

The police have arrested two persons in connection to the case, one from West Bengal and the other from Bihar

By Pinaki Das

In a major crackdown against the smuggling of illicit drugs, Assam police seized three trucks containing 95,360 bottles of codeine phosphate-based cough syrup, worth several crore rupees, from the bordering Churaibari area in Tripura, said a senior police officer.

Pranab Mili, in-charge of Assam’s Churaibari police watch post, who also led the operation said, “On the basis of specific secret information from the Superintendent of Police (SP), I detained three vehicles in the Churaibari checkpoint. From these vehicles in total we recovered 95,360 bottles of codeine.”

The police have arrested two persons in connection to the case, one from West Bengal and the other from Bihar.

As per the police it is one of the largest crackdowns on illegal drugs.

On Tuesday, the police launched an operation and recovered 323 cartons containing 51,680 bottles of ESkuf (a cough syrup brand) in the first truck.

Subsequently, the police discovered two more trucks involved in the illegal trade.

Upon inspection, the authorities found a staggering quantity of cough syrup bottles concealed in cartons and covered with various goods.

The initial investigation led to the arrest of the drivers of two trucks, identified as Saminur Islam of 24 Pargana in West Bengal and Bibhesh Kumar Ray of Begusarai in Bihar.

The smuggled consignment from Kolkata’s Barabazar was en route to Agartala.

Reportedly, there is a ban on the movement of codeine-based cough syrups and formulations following concerns raised about their misuse as narcotics and intoxicants in neighbouring Bangladesh, repeatedly raised on various platforms, allegedly being smuggled from this side of the border.

Authorities estimate that the confiscated cough syrup, once sold in the black market, could have fetched a value close to Rs 10 crore.

The police have initiated a thorough investigation and have filed a case against the arrested individuals under relevant sections of the law.

Further probe and legal proceedings are underway as the Churaibari Police intensify their efforts to dismantle the illicit drug trade network in the region.

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