Agartala: In a significant triumph against drug trafficking, Tripura Police have intercepted one of the largest hauls of banned cough syrup in the state’s history, seizing 57,000 bottles of Escof, estimated to be worth over Rs 1 crore, from a truck at the Betbagan checkpoint in Dhalai district.
The 14-wheeler lorry, bearing registration number NL 04 D 9439, initially appeared to be transporting onions, a ruse that was quickly unravelled during a meticulous inspection by vigilant officers.
Beneath the seemingly innocuous cargo, police unearthed 190 sacks, each meticulously packed with 300 bottles of the illicit Escof cough syrup. “The vehicle, bearing registration number NL 04 D 9439, was reportedly carrying onions, but upon thorough inspection, police discovered 190 sacks of the banned syrup concealed under the cargo,” confirmed Uttam Banik, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Dhalai, highlighting the sophisticated concealment method employed by the smugglers.
The breakthrough operation was set in motion following a confidential intelligence input. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, police officers flagged down the suspect vehicle and, with a Duty Magistrate present, initiated a comprehensive search. Senior police officials, including ASP Uttam Banik, Ambassa Sub-Divisional Police Officer Nirupan Dutta, and Officer-in-Charge of Ambassa Police Station Nandan Das, personally oversaw the successful interdiction.
Following the discovery, two individuals travelling in the truck were immediately apprehended at the scene. A case has been promptly registered against them under the stringent provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police officials have further stated that a broader investigation is now actively underway to dismantle the larger criminal network orchestrating this extensive smuggling attempt. Escof, a codeine-based syrup, is widely abused for recreational purposes and its non-medical use is strictly prohibited under Indian narcotics regulations, underscoring the severity of this seizure.
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