Tripura Police under Kailashahar Sub division of Unakoti district achieved a major breakthrough on Monday afternoon after recovering a large consignment of Burmese cigarettes from a VIP vehicle and arresting two youths in connection with the case.

According to police sources, acting on a tip-off, a team led by Officer-in-Charge Tapas Malakar of Kailashahar Police Station, along with TSR personnel, set up a checkpoint near the Saiphon area of the town. Shortly after, a luxury Bolero vehicle bearing registration number TR02M0401 arrived at the spot and was intercepted for inspection.

During the search, police discovered a substantial quantity of Burmese cigarettes cleverly concealed inside the vehicle. The estimated market value of the seized contraband is around Rs 3 lakh, officials said.

The two arrested individuals have been identified as Rakesh Bhaumik and Tarif Sarkar, both residents of the Pecharthal area. They are currently being interrogated, and a detailed investigation has been launched.

OC Tapas Malakar stated that there have been ongoing attempts to smuggle Burmese cigarettes into Bangladesh via routes passing through Pecharthal, Panisagar, and Kumarghat via Kailashahar. He added that police have recently achieved multiple successes in cracking down on such smuggling networks.

The seized vehicle is currently in police custody at Kailashahar Police Station as the investigation continues.