Silchar: Police seized 10,200 bottles of cough syrup, valued at around Rs 1.02 crore in the illegal market, in two operations in Sribhumi district’s Bazaricherra area within 24 hours, officials said Wednesday. One person was arrested, while two others allegedly fled after abandoning a vehicle.In the latest seizure, 7,950 bottles of cough syrup, estimated to be worth around Rs 80 lakh, were recovered from a mini-truck at Hatikhira on Wednesday. Police suspect the consignment was being smuggled to Tripura.Police said the bottles were concealed beneath vegetables in the Tripura-registered vehicle. Some local youths spotted the vehicle and raised an alarm, after which the driver and helper allegedly fled.Police later searched the vehicle and recovered 50 cartons of cough syrup. Three more cartons were found in a nearby wetland. Each carton contained six boxes, with 25 bottles in each box, taking the total seizure to 7,950 bottles.The seizure came less than 24 hours after police intercepted a container truck at Churaibari in Bazaricherra on Tuesday afternoon and recovered 2,250 bottles of cough syrup, valued at around Rs 22 lakh.The truck driver, identified as Biplob Das (26), a resident of Radhapyari bazaar in Bazaricherra, was arrested. Police said a preliminary investigation suggested the consignment was also being transported to Tripura.Meanwhile, in neighbouring Badarpur, police raided an area near Jumbasti on Tuesday night following complaints of illegal liquor sales and seized a large quantity of illicit liquor. Five people were detained, police said.A senior Badarpur police officer said the crackdown on illegal liquor trade would continue. Police have also stepped up surveillance against traffic-rule violations and warned that legal action would be taken against offenders.
