One arrested with cannabis worth Rs 15 lakh in Tripura

In a major breakthrough in Tripura Police’s ongoing crackdown on narcotics, a joint team led by Sonamura Police Station seized 325 kilograms of dried cannabis (ganja) from a house in Ananda Nagar village under Sepahijala district’s Sonamura Sub-division early Friday morning. One person has been arrested in connection with the case.

Sonamura Sub-division shares a significant stretch of the international border with Bangladesh, making it a sensitive zone for cross-border smuggling activities.

The seized contraband is estimated to be worth around Rs 15 lakh in the illicit market.

The raid was carried out based on intelligence inputs and led by Officer-in-Charge (OC) Jayanta Kumar Dey. The team included DCM Prabir Saha, Inspector Biplob Debbarma, Sub-Inspector Tapan Das, and personnel of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR).

According to OC Dey, the initial search of the house belonging to one Manjil Hossain did not reveal anything suspicious. However, acting on suspicion, the team began digging the backyard where they unearthed seven large plastic drums buried underground, all packed with dried cannabis.

During preliminary interrogation, the accused, Manjil Hossain, allegedly confessed that the ganja was stored for smuggling to other parts of the country. He has been taken into custody, and investigations are ongoing to trace other possible links in the smuggling network.

OC Dey credited the success of the operation to the relentless efforts of the intelligence unit and emphasized the police’s firm stance against narcotics.

“We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drugs. This operation reflects our commitment and sense of duty. Such raids will be carried out regularly,” he said.