Guwahati, July 28 (IANS) Assam Police seized 31,800 bottles of suspected contraband cough syrup valued at around Rs 3.18 crore in two separate anti-narcotics operations in Sribhumi district, leading to the arrest of two alleged drug traffickers, officials said on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the operations, saying the sustained crackdown on drug trafficking across the state was yielding positive results and disrupting organised criminal networks.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister praised the efforts of the Sribhumi Police for carrying out the successful operations. “Vigilance across Assam is yielding results. Kudos to @sribhumipolice for two successful anti-drug operations resulting in the seizure of 31,800 bottles of suspected contraband worth Rs 3.18 crore and apprehending two accused. Every such interception disrupts a larger criminal network,” Sarma said.
According to police, the two operations were conducted based on specific intelligence inputs as part of the state’s intensified drive against narcotics smuggling. During the raids, officers intercepted vehicles suspected to be transporting the contraband and recovered a total of 31,800 bottles of banned cough syrup concealed for illegal transportation.
Two persons allegedly involved in the smuggling racket were arrested during the operations. Their identities were not immediately disclosed.
Police said the seized consignment has an estimated market value of about Rs 3.18 crore. The contraband was allegedly being transported for distribution through an inter-state trafficking network.
A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the source and destination of the seized consignment.
Officials said efforts are also on to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate involved in the illegal trade.
Assam Police have intensified anti-drug operations over the past few years under the state government’s “war on drugs” campaign, leading to frequent seizures of narcotics, psychotropic substances and other contraband, besides the arrest of hundreds of alleged traffickers.
Police officials said the crackdown would continue with sustained surveillance and intelligence-based operations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks operating in and through the state.
–IANS
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