In a major blow to an interstate drug trafficking network, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 55,626 bottles of codeine-based E-SKuf and Fairdyl cough syrup worth an estimated ₹6.54 crore from a railway parcel van at Agartala Railway Station and arrested one person in connection with the case.
The seizure followed specific intelligence received by the DRI's Agartala Regional Unit. A joint operation involving officials of the DRI, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), Assam Rifles and railway authorities was carried out on July 1.
During the operation, officials examined 89 iron drums loaded in the parcel van. While nine drums contained only white-coloured powder, the remaining 80 drums were found to have 55,626 bottles of codeine-based E-SKuf and Fairdyl cough syrup concealed beneath the powder. The search, counting and seizure operation continued overnight and concluded at around 7 a.m. on July 2.
The DRI arrested Subrata Deb (34), manager of B.K. Enterprise, Agartala, who had allegedly arrived at the railway station to receive the consignment. He is a resident of Bathakha village under Kalyanpur Police Station in Tripura's Khowai district.
Officials said the consignment had been booked from Katihar by a consignor identified in railway records as Chandan Verman of Agartala.
The seized cough syrup, commonly misused as a narcotic substance because of its codeine content, is estimated to be worth ₹6,54,43,989 in the illicit market. The DRI has registered a case, and further investigation is underway to trace the entire trafficking network and identify others involved in the smuggling operation.
