Agartala, July 2: In a major operation against the illegal trafficking of narcotic substances, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 55,626 bottles of codeine-based E-SKuf and Fairdyl cough syrup from a railway parcel van at Agartala Railway Station. The contraband, packed in 100 ml bottles, is estimated to be worth around Rs 6.54 crore in the illicit market. One person has been arrested in connection with the case.
According to officials, the consignment was being transported in parcel van VPH No. NR 094527, which had been booked as general goods from Katihar to Agartala under PW Bill No. 198284 dated June 25, 2026. The parcel van reached Agartala Railway Station on June 30 and was later positioned on Line No. 13 for unloading.
Based on specific intelligence received by the DRI’s Agartala Regional Unit, a joint search was conducted on July 1 by officials of the DRI, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), Assam Rifles and railway authorities.
During the inspection, officials found that the parcel van was carrying general goods along with 89 iron drums. Examination of the drums revealed that 80 of them contained white-coloured powder used to conceal 55,626 bottles of codeine-based E-SKuf and Fairdyl cough syrup, while the remaining nine drums contained only the white powder. The search, counting and seizure process continued overnight and concluded at around 7 a.m. on July 2.
The DRI arrested Subrata Deb, 34, the manager of B.K. Enterprise in Agartala, who had reportedly arrived at the railway station to receive the consignment. Deb is a resident of Bathakha village under Kalyanpur Police Station in Tripura’s Khowai district.
Officials said the railway parcel records identified the consignor as Chandan Verman of Agartala, who had booked the consignment from Katihar.
The DRI’s Agartala Regional Unit has registered a case and launched a detailed investigation to identify and trace the network allegedly involved in the trafficking of the seized contraband.
