Brown Sugar Seized in Khowai, 40,000 Yaba Tablets Worth Rs.1.60 Crore Recovered in Fatikray Questions Mount Over Action Against Trafficking Networks
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 12, 2026
Despite repeated assurances by Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha to make the state drug-free, fresh drug seizures in Khowai and Radhanagar have once again highlighted the continuing challenge of narcotics trafficking in Tripura. The recovery of 54 containers of suspected brown sugar in Khowai and 40,000 yaba tablets valued at approximately Rs.1.60 crore from a dumper truck in Radhanagar under Fatikray Police Station has renewed concerns over the effectiveness of the state's anti-drug campaign and the need for sustained action against trafficking networks.
The latest incidents have also brought renewed attention to allegations of political patronage, selective enforcement and pressure on law enforcement agencies in cases involving local drug traffickers.
The central question remains whether the campaign against narcotics is being pursued consistently, irrespective of the political connections or influence of those suspected of involvement.
In Khowai, police seized 54 containers of suspected brown sugar during an operation conducted on Sunday afternoon following a tip-off about the possible transportation of narcotics through Nripen Chowmuhani. According to police sources, Khowai police station Officer-in-Charge Prajit Malakar received the information and immediately initiated an operation with the assistance of the Subhash Park police outpost.
During surveillance in the suspected area, police noticed the suspicious movements of an individual and subsequently detained him for questioning and a search. The suspected brown sugar was recovered during the search, according to the information provided by police. The individual, identified as Jayanta Debnath, a resident of the Bonkar area near Khowai police station, was taken to the police station for further investigation.
Police have reportedly registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused was scheduled to be produced before the Khowai District and Sessions Court on Monday. The investigation is expected to establish the source of the suspected contraband, its intended destination and whether the accused had links with a wider trafficking network.
In a separate operation in North Tripura, Assam Rifles personnel and Fatikroy police seized 40,000 yaba tablets from a goods-carrying dumper at Radhanagar under Fatikroy police station. The seized tablets have an estimated market value of Rs.1.60 crore, according to police.
Kumarghat Sub-Divisional Police Officer David Debbarma stated that, acting on specific intelligence, personnel from Fatikroy police station and Assam Rifles launched a joint anti-narcotics operation. The security personnel pursued a dumper bearing registration number TR-01-AT-1541 and intercepted it near the Radhanagar Assam Rifles camp.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the recovery of the yaba tablets. The dumper was reportedly coming from the direction of North Tripura, but its ultimate destination and the intended recipients of the consignment had not been established. The driver allegedly managed to flee from the spot.
Following the operation, the vehicle and the seized contraband were handed over to Fatikroy police, which reportedly registered a case under the relevant anti-narcotics legislation and initiated an investigation.
The recovery has once again highlighted the operational role played by Assam Rifles in intercepting suspected drug consignments in Tripura. The police have described the Radhanagar operation as a joint success. However, the circumstances also raise questions about the need for stronger intelligence-led policing, effective surveillance of transportation routes and sustained investigations to identify those coordinating large-scale consignments.
Reports of drug seizures in different parts of Tripura have continued to emerge despite the state government's repeated declarations of its commitment to eliminating narcotics. The latest recoveries demonstrate that the problem cannot be addressed through isolated seizures alone. Investigators must establish the origins of the drugs, identify the financiers and suppliers, trace the intended recipients and dismantle the networks responsible for transporting and distributing the contraband.
More serious concerns have also been expressed in political and public circles over allegations that some local drug traffickers enjoy protection or influence and that police personnel sometimes face pressure to release suspects after their detention.
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