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Agartala, Oct 31 (IANS) The Tripura Police Crime Branch has arrested one of the key kingpins involved in the seizure of drugs worth Rs 5.4 crore recovered from a goods train coming here from Delhi, officials said on Friday.
The anti-narcotics wing of the Tripura Police Crime Branch (TPCB) arrested Rajib Dasgupta (42) on Thursday night in connection with the recovery of 1,07,800 bottles of banned Iskuff cough syrup from a goods train at Jiraniya railway station on October 17, a senior police officer said.
Dasgupta is one of the key figures in a major drug trafficking racket operating in the north-eastern states. “Another major drug smuggler involved in the case is currently absconding. TPCB officials are conducting continuous raids to nab the fugitive. Further investigation is underway to identify and arrest others involved in the illegal transportation and supply network,” the officer told the media.
The official said that, acting on specific intelligence, a joint team of security forces searched a goods train parked at Jiraniya railway station in West Tripura district on October 17 and recovered 1,07,800 bottles of banned Escuf cough syrup.
Iskuff cough syrup, banned in India, contains codeine phosphate and triprolidine hydrochloride, substances commonly abused as narcotics in India, neighboring Bangladesh and other countries.
The official said that the estimated value of the seized drugs in the illegal market is around Rs 5.4 crore.
In a major success against drug trafficking, Tripura Police, Assam Rifles, Government Railway Police (GRP), Special Task Force (STF) and Customs Department jointly conducted the operation and seized the consignment of illegal pharmaceutical drugs, the official said.
After the goods train carrying chicken feed, rice and other goods from Delhi reached Jiraniya railway station on 16 October, the search operation began and continued till the early hours of 17 October. The seized goods were found unclaimed and were hidden in two wagons along with other cargo.
The consignment has been handed over to Customs for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Police suspect that the banned Escuf cough syrup was intended to be smuggled into Bangladesh through clandestine routes.
Assam Rifles, in coordination with other enforcement agencies, is vigilant and committed to curb the menace of drug trafficking in the North-East and protect the region from illegal activities.
With the latest seizure, narcotics worth more than Rs 136 crore have been seized in separate operations in Tripura in less than three weeks.
Tripura, which shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh, is surrounded by the neighboring country on three sides, making the northeastern state vulnerable to cross-border migration, crime, illegal trade and smuggling.
Except for a few stretches, most parts of the border are fenced to prevent smuggling, cross-border crimes and illegal infiltration.
Another senior police officer said the drugs are often smuggled from Myanmar, transported through Mizoram and southern Assam, and brought to Tripura for further trafficking in neighboring Bangladesh.
–IANS
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