Banned cough syrup worth Rs 4 crore seized in Assam–Tripura corridor, two arrested

In a major crackdown on the illegal narcotics trade in the Northeast, a joint operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police has led to the seizure of banned cough syrup worth approximately Rs 4 crore, concealed beneath sacks of potatoes in a cargo truck travelling through Assam.

The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs received by the 179th Intelligence Wing of the BSF. Acting swiftly on the tip-off, BSF personnel, in coordination with Patharkandi Police, intercepted a truck en route from Guwahati to Tripura. A thorough search of the vehicle revealed 150 cartons containing nearly 30,000 bottles of prohibited cough syrup hidden under layers of potato sacks, apparently to evade detection.

Officials said the recovered consignment was intended for illegal distribution, adding that such cough syrups are often misused for their narcotic properties. The estimated market value of the seized contraband stands at around Rs 4 crore, making it one of the significant recoveries in recent months along the Assam–Tripura transit route.

Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizure. They have been identified as the truck driver, Mahant Singh, a resident of Hojai district in Assam, and the co-driver, Balukumar, a native of Bihar. Both have been taken into custody for further interrogation as investigators probe the larger network behind the smuggling operation