In a significant drug bust, Tripura police confiscate cough syrup valued at Rs 1 crore

57,000 bottles of Escof, worth more than Rs 1 crore, were recovered from a truck at the Betbagan checkpoint in the Dhalai district by Tripura Police, who had confiscated one of the biggest consignments of the state's prohibited cough syrup.
According to reports, the 14-wheeler truck, registered NL 04 D 9439, was transporting onions. But officers found 190 sacks of Escof cough syrup concealed beneath the genuine cargo during a routine examination. There were three hundred bottles in each bag.

  “The vehicle, bearing registration number NL 04 D 9439, was reportedly carrying onions, but upon thorough inspection, police discovered 190 sacks of the banned syrup concealed under the cargo,” said Uttam Banik, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Dhalai.

A secret tip-off led to the start of the operation. In front of a duty magistrate, police pulled over the car and searched it. Senior officials were on the scene, including Ambassa Sub-Divisional Police Officer Nirupan Dutta, ASP Uttam Banik, and Officer-in-Charge of Ambassa Police Station Nandan Das.
Two of the truck's passengers were immediately taken into custody. Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, a case has been filed.
A broader investigation to find the network responsible for the smuggling attempt is currently in progress, according to police officials.
Indian drugs laws prohibit the non-medical use of Escof, a codeine-based syrup that is commonly abused as a recreational drug.