4 Tripura cops held for ‘diversion’ of seized cough syrup

Agartala: The Crime Branch of Tripura arrested four police personnel for alleged misappropriation of a large quantity of confiscated narcotic cough syrup during an anti-drug operation in Teliamura in Tripura’s Khowai district.The accused policemen were identified as inspector Ajit Debbarma, SI Rajendra Reang, woman sub-inspector Sampa Das (all from Teliamura PS), and assistant sub-inspector Sachindra Debbarma (special branch), OC Teliamura PS Jayanta Kr Dey said.Under the direction of DGP Tripura, Anurag, the four were booked under Sections 305, 306, 316(5), 61 of BNS and 21(c) & 29 of NDPS Act, 1985, and produced before a local court for remand as the investigation continues.Additional SP Khowai Justin Joseph alleged that during a mobile patrol on May 20, Teliamura PS staff intercepted a white car and recovered a consignment of codeine-based cough syrup, but discrepancies emerged when the full consignment was not properly recorded during the seizure process at the police station.A review of Teliamura PS CCTV footage allegedly showed portions of the recovered consignment being removed from the GD Room before official documentation. Investigators found that around 245 bottles (100 ml each) of cough syrup — classified as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act—were dishonestly removed and concealed by the accused personnel, police said. Reports also indicate the remaining shipment was clandestinely rerouted due to alleged collusion between law enforcement and traffickers, with claims that some of the seized cough syrup later entered the open market.It has been alleged that specific batches were sold to drug users at inflated prices amid high demand among addicts, raising concerns over the integrity of agencies tasked with combating narcotics in the region.