A joint operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police has resulted in the seizure of banned cough syrup worth nearly ₹4 crore in Assam, dealing a major blow to the illegal narcotics trade in the Northeast. The contraband was found concealed beneath sacks of potatoes in a cargo truck travelling through the state.
The operation was carried out based on specific intelligence inputs received by the 179th Intelligence Wing of the BSF. Acting on the information, BSF personnel, in coordination with Patharkandi Police, intercepted a truck en route from Guwahati to Tripura. During a detailed search, officials recovered 150 cartons containing around 30,000 bottles of prohibited cough syrup hidden under layers of potato sacks in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Officials said the seized consignment was meant for illegal distribution, noting that such cough syrups are often abused for their narcotic effects. The recovery, estimated to be worth approximately ₹4 crore, is among the most significant seizures in recent months along the Assam–Tripura transit corridor.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the case. They were identified as the truck driver, Mahant Singh of Assam’s Hojai district, and the co-driver, Balukumar, a resident of Bihar. Both are currently in custody as authorities investigate the wider smuggling network involved in the operation.
