In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Churaibari police on Wednesday seized codeine-based cough syrups valued at Rs 1.5 crore from a truck at the Assam-Tripura border in Sribhumi. The narcotics were cleverly concealed behind sacks of potatoes inside the vehicle.
Routine Inspection Leads to Seizure
During a routine inspection at the Churaibari checkpoint, police intercepted a 12-wheel truck traveling from Siliguri to Agartala. Upon searching, they recovered 14,100 bottles of Eskuf cough syrup hidden beneath the potato sacks. A total of 94 cartons, each containing 150 bottles, were seized.
The driver of the vehicle, Yogesh Kumar (27), a resident of Punjab, has been arrested in connection with the case. Officials confirmed that the cough syrup is a codeine-based narcotic substance, often abused as a recreational drug.
Legal Action Under NDPS Act
Niranjan Das, in-charge of the Churaibari police watchpost, stated, “The accused was transporting the narcotic substance through the truck. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigation is underway.”
Kumar is scheduled to be produced before the chief judicial magistrate's court on Thursday. Authorities are probing the source and intended destination of the consignment.
