Tripura Police under Srinagar police station seized a truck carrying a large consignment of contraband cigarettes, valued at approximately Rs 60 lakh, and arrested the driver yesterday night.

The operation took place on the Khayerpur bypass road, which has long been known as a hotspot for smugglers due to insufficient surveillance. Despite ongoing efforts, authorities have often struggled to intercept all illegal consignments, allowing smuggling activities to flourish.

Acting on a tip-off, the Srinagar Police Station team, led by Officer-in-Charge Aranuday Das and Second Officer Narayan Sen, along with other police personnel and TSR forces, set up a checkpoint on the bypass road. A container truck bearing registration number TR 05 J 1706, coming from Khayerpur, was stopped and searched.

During the search, police recovered 3.7 lakh cigarettes packed in 37 boxes. The truck driver was immediately taken into custody.

Speaking to journalists, O.C. Aranuday Das stated that the seized cigarettes were intended for illegal transport outside the state. Legal action is being taken against the accused truck driver under relevant laws.