Cachar Police Seize 21,600 Bottles Of Cough Syrup Worth Rs. 2.16 Crore Hidden In Oil Drums At Rongpur

In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Cachar Police seized a massive consignment of narcotic cough syrup worth around Rs. 2.16 crore in the black market during a special operation at Rongpur under Silchar Police Station early Thursday morning (October 9). The consignment was reportedly destined for smuggling into Bangladesh. Police have noted that Cachar is increasingly being used as a transit point for narcotic trafficking.

Acting on credible intelligence, a police team intercepted a truck bearing registration number WB-29B-1996 at Madhura Point, Rongpur, Silchar. The vehicle, reportedly coming from Kolkata via the Lumding–Silchar road and heading towards Tripura, was found carrying 36 iron drums, each containing four cartons of ESKUF cough syrup. On inspection, the police discovered a total of 21,600 bottles of the addictive cough syrup concealed inside the drums.

Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizure — Bapi Halder (45), son of Gopal Halder, from Choroktola village under Bongaon Police Station, and Tapash Biswas (42), son of Arobinda Biswas, from Mama Bhagina village under Bagda Police Station, both hailing from North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The entire seizure was made in the presence of independent witnesses.

Addressing the media, Cachar Senior Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta said, “Early this morning, we conducted an operation in Rongpur as part of our continuous drive against drug peddling. We intercepted a truck from West Bengal carrying 36 oil drums, which, on opening, revealed 21,600 bottles of addictive cough syrup. The consignment was cleverly concealed to avoid detection. We cut the drums open and seized the narcotic substances in the presence of independent eyewitnesses. Two individuals, Bapi Halder and Tapash Biswas, have been arrested in connection with this case.”

Mahatta further added that the consignment was allegedly being transported from West Bengal to Tripura, with initial investigation suggesting that the drugs were possibly meant to be smuggled into Bangladesh.

“A racket is constantly trying to make Cachar a transit point for narcotics. They are adopting new modus operandi, but we have managed to outsmart them each time. Our operations against drug trafficking will continue relentlessly until we completely eliminate this menace,” the SSP asserted.

Police said that further investigation is underway to trace the wider network involved in the illegal transportation of narcotic substances.