In a significant blow to the illegal narcotics supply chain in the Northeast, a joint operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police has resulted in the seizure of banned cough syrup valued at nearly Rs 4 crore from a cargo truck passing through Assam. The contraband was ingeniously concealed beneath sacks of potatoes to avoid detection.
The operation was carried out after the 179th Intelligence Wing of the BSF received specific inputs about the movement of illegal narcotics. Acting on the information, BSF personnel coordinated with Patharkandi Police to intercept a truck travelling from Guwahati towards Tripura. During a detailed inspection of the vehicle, security teams uncovered 150 cartons containing close to 30,000 bottles of prohibited cough syrup, carefully hidden under layers of potato sacks.
Officials said the seized cough syrup was meant for unlawful distribution and misuse, noting that such substances are frequently diverted for their narcotic effects. The scale of the recovery highlights the growing sophistication of drug smuggling methods along key transit corridors in the region, particularly the Assam–Tripura route, which has come under increased surveillance in recent months.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the seizure. The accused were identified as the truck driver, Mahant Singh, a resident of Assam’s Hojai district, and the co-driver, Balukumar, who hails from Bihar. Both have been taken into custody for questioning as authorities investigate the broader network involved in the trafficking operation.
