Banned Cough Syrup worth over 4 Crore Recovered from Goods Train in Tripura

October 17, 2025

Agartala: In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, security forces in Tripura recovered banned drugs worth Rs 4.5 crore from a goods train arriving from Delhi, officials said on Friday.

Acting on specific intelligence, a joint team comprising the Tripura Police, Assam Rifles, Government Railway Police (GRP), Special Task Force (STF) and Customs Department conducted an extensive search at the Jirania railway station in West Tripura district.

During the operation, officials discovered 90,000 bottles of Eskuf Cough Syrup, a codeine-based drug banned under Indian law. The consignment, hidden among legitimate goods, was seized after being found unclaimed in two wagons of the train.

Banned Cough Syrup Seized

The Eskuf Cough Syrup contains Codeine Phosphate and Triprolidine Hydrochloride — both controlled substances often misused as narcotics in India and Bangladesh.

Authorities estimate the value of the seized cough syrup at Rs 4.5 crore in the illegal market. The consignment has been handed over to the Customs Department for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Tripura Emerges as Key Route in Drug Smuggling Network

Officials said the train, carrying chicken feed, rice and other commodities, had arrived from Delhi on Thursday evening. The search operation extended into the early hours of Friday.

With this latest seizure, drugs worth over Rs 134.50 crore have been confiscated in Tripura in less than three weeks, highlighting the state’s growing vulnerability to narcotics trafficking.

Series of Major Drug Busts in Recent Weeks

On October 6, the Assam Rifles and Customs officials seized 69.61 kg of methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 70 crore in the Khowai district, arresting four traffickers.

Earlier, on September 29, security forces recovered 60.77 kg of methamphetamine valued at Rs 60 crore in Mohanpur, West Tripura. Officials believe both consignments were smuggled from Myanmar and routed through Mizoram and southern Assam before reaching Tripura, destined for Bangladesh.

Tripura’s Vulnerable Border

Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh, surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country. While most of the frontier is fenced, officials acknowledge that certain unfenced patches remain hotspots for cross-border smuggling, illegal trade and infiltration.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying joint operations and maintaining vigilance to curb the narcotics menace in the Northeast.