Tripura Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled two separate suspected drug-smuggling attempts on Thursday, recovering around 25 kg of dried ganja and 525 bottles of suspected contraband cough syrup in separate operations. Three women from Bihar were arrested in connection with the ganja seizure.

In the first operation, personnel from East Agartala Police Station and the College Tilla Police Outpost detained three women at Jogendranagar Railway Station after reportedly noticing their suspicious movements. The women were identified as Pinky Kumar, Riku Devi and Munakia Devi.

Police said the women were allegedly seen arranging bags suspiciously at the station. A subsequent search led to the recovery of several packets containing approximately 25 kg of dried ganja. During preliminary questioning, the accused reportedly told investigators that the consignment was being transported to Bihar.

The Officer-in-Charge of East Agartala Police Station said a case would be registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigators are also questioning the women to determine the source of the ganja and identify others who may be linked to the suspected trafficking network.

In a separate operation along the India-Bangladesh border in Sepahijala district, the BSF's 81 Battalion, in coordination with Sonamura Police, recovered 525 bottles of suspected Eskuf cough syrup allegedly meant to be smuggled into Bangladesh.

Acting on specific intelligence, BSF personnel conducting patrols near the barbed-wire fencing in the Matinagar border area noticed suspicious items concealed inside a dense forest. A joint search operation subsequently led to the recovery of the cough syrup bottles, which were handed over to Sonamura Police for further investigation.

Sonamura Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tapas Das said the seized consignment was estimated to be worth around Rs 5 lakh. He said an investigation was underway to identify those behind the suspected smuggling attempt and assured that those involved would be dealt with according to law.

Preliminary findings indicate that the cough syrup had allegedly been hidden near the border fencing for subsequent movement across the international border into Bangladesh. The joint operation, however, prevented the suspected smuggling attempt.