Massive Drug Bust in Tripura: Banned cough syrup worth Rs 1 crore seized, two arrested

In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Tripura Police on Sunday seized a massive consignment of banned Escof cough syrup, valued at over Rs 1 crore, from the Betbagan checkpoint under Ambassa Sub-division in Dhalai district.

The seizure was made from a 14-wheeler lorry (registration number NL 04 D 9439) that was allegedly transporting onions. However, a detailed inspection revealed that 190 sacks containing approximately 57,000 bottles of the codeine-based syrup were hidden beneath the vegetable cargo.

Dhalai Additional Superintendent of Police Uttam Banik said the bust was made following a tip-off. “The vehicle was intercepted during routine checks. A joint team including Ambassa SDPO Nirupan Dutta and Ambassa PS OC Nandan Das, along with a Duty Magistrate, conducted the search and recovered the contraband,” he said.

Each sack reportedly contained 300 bottles of Escof, a cough syrup known for its misuse as a narcotic substance. The entire haul is estimated to be worth over Rs 1 crore in the black market.

Police arrested two individuals traveling in the vehicle and registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to trace the origins and intended destination of the illegal consignment, suspecting involvement of a larger interstate smuggling network.

This seizure marks one of the largest hauls of banned substances in the state in recent times, signaling Tripura Police’s increased vigilance in combating drug trafficking along critical transit routes.