The Border Security Force (BSF) detained a Bangladesh bound truck loaded with cough syrup bottles worth Rs. 71 lakh here yesterday.
Acting on a tip off, 195 battalion of the BSF during the search of a truck bearing a Nagaland registration number NL-01-L-4649 in the Amtali-Khayerpur bypass under Srinagar Police Station on the outskirts of capital Agartala last night recovered huge quantity of contraband cartons hidden under sacks of cement.
BSF DIG Hardeep Singh said, "Some 58,000 cough syrup bottles worth around Rs. 71 lakh was recovered and which were meant for being smuggled out to Bangladesh. The truck has been seized along with two persons. Phensedyl is a banned drug used by the youth. To prevent the youth from using it, we are always on alert and try to prevent its smuggling. This helps in maintaining good relations between our two nations (India and Bangladesh)."
Along with 43,400 bottles of phensedyl, 14,880 bottles of another cough syrup - eskuf - were also seized. The total price of the banned contraband is around Rs. 71,96,995 but the price multiplies at least three to four time after it reaches Bangladesh where it is consumed mainly by the youth as substitute for liquor.
The BSF is concerned about the smuggling of drugs as Bangladesh has raised this issue at various levels. During the last two years, the BSF made continuous effort to curb smuggling of contraband and drugs to Bangladesh.
Though the printed price of a bottle is Rs. 105.50, each bottle in Bangladesh fetches between Taka 600 to 700 and is hence a lucrative item for the smugglers, who bring it from the far-flung states of West Bengal or Bihar since it is not available in Tripura.
The ceased consignment has been stored in Nischintapur border out post and shall be produced before the court by the concerned department as per the procedure.