142 Bottles of Eskuf Syrup Seized from CNG Fuel Tank in Khowai; Allegations Surface Over a Much Larger Consignment Going Missing

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, September 6, 2026

In what police describe as a new method of transporting narcotic substances, Khowai district police have seized 142 bottles of Eskuf cough syrup allegedly concealed inside the fuel tank of a CNG vehicle. The seizure was disclosed by Khowai Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Debaprasad Roy, who said the operation was carried out on the basis of confidential information received by the police.

According to police, the CNG vehicle, bearing registration number TR01CH-0592, was intercepted in the Baijalbari police station area on Sunday morning. During a detailed search, officers allegedly discovered the Eskuf bottles hidden inside the vehicle's fuel tank instead of fuel.

The incident has drawn considerable attention because of allegations that the seized quantity may represent only a small portion of a much larger consignment that allegedly passed through the district.

According to information circulating locally, a vehicle allegedly carrying a substantial quantity of Eskuf was travelling from Ambassa towards Teliamura. It reportedly entered the Khowai area through Kamalpur after allegedly coming under pressure from police personnel in Ambassa.

Sources further allege that the larger consignment was subsequently taken towards the Khowai-Bangladesh border, from where it may have been smuggled across the international border.

There are also allegations that the consignment was intended for alleged drug networks operating in and around Teliamura and the Bonkar area of Khowai. However, these allegations have not been independently established, and the identities of any alleged recipients have not been officially disclosed.

The controversy has intensified over claims that police authorities had allegedly received advance information about the movement of the suspected large consignment.

According to allegations, despite the information being passed to the police, the main vehicle could not be intercepted during the night. Subsequently, Champahour police reportedly cordoned off parts of the border area, but the suspected vehicle allegedly could not be traced.

Against this backdrop, the recovery of 142 bottles from a CNG vehicle the following morning has prompted questions among sections of the local public about whether the seizure represents an isolated consignment or only a fraction of a larger trafficking operation.

Police version

Speaking to the media, SDPO Debaprasad Roy said the seizure was made after the Officer-in-Charge received specific intelligence regarding the transportation of Eskuf.

Police reportedly recovered 142 bottles concealed inside the vehicle's fuel tank and initiated legal proceedings in connection with the seizure.

The discovery of narcotic substances inside a vehicle's fuel tank has also highlighted the increasingly sophisticated methods allegedly being adopted by traffickers to evade conventional checking and detection.

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