Tripura Police have seized around 794 kg of dried cannabis and arrested one person in a late-night operation in Sepahijala district, dealing a major blow to the illegal drug trade.

The operation was carried out by personnel of Jatrapur Police Station based on specific intelligence inputs received by the Tripura Police Intelligence Wing. The seized cannabis is estimated to have a market value of around Rs 1.5 crore, police said.

According to Jatrapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Parthanath Bhowmik, the raid was conducted at around 12:30 am on Thursday at Laltilla Para under the Bhavanipur Panchayat area.

Acting on the intelligence input, a police team surrounded a house and conducted a search of the premises. During the operation, officers recovered 11 Sintex drums containing dried cannabis, which had allegedly been hidden underground inside a newly constructed building.

The raid was led by the OC and involved all Sub-Inspectors of Jatrapur Police Station along with personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR). The Sonamura Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) was also informed and subsequently reached the spot along with the Officer-in-Charge of Sonamura Police Station.

The house owner, identified as Badal Chandra De, was arrested in connection with the seizure and taken to Jatrapur Police Station for further questioning.

Police said the operation was conducted without any major obstruction and described the seizure as one of the largest drug recoveries by Jatrapur Police in recent years.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He was produced before the Sonamura Court on Thursday.

Further investigation is underway to determine the source of the cannabis and identify others who may be involved in the illegal trafficking network.