Alipurduar police seize 699 kg cannabis, four arrested

BABUL SARKAR, EOI, Alipurduar, 18 Nov 2018: Enormous quantity of cannabis was seized from two spots of the district and four persons were arrested in connection with peddling the narcotic. Sunil Yadav, superintendent of police informed that altogether 699 kilogram of cannabis was seized from Pakriguri and Monojit Nag bus terminus in last 24 hours and a vehicle carrying 681 kilogram of cannabis was seized.

“A vehicle bearing registration number of Nagaland was halted during a naka checking at Pakriguri area near interstate border with Assam. The vehicle was moving to Patna in Bihar from Tripura. Driver of the vehicle identified as Shambhu Banerjee of Barasat in North 24 Paraganas was arrested after 55 parcels of cannabis weighing 681 kilogram were seized from an artificial roof of the car designed to carry the narcotic. The approximate value of cannabis seized from the car would be approximately Rs 68 lakh in clandestine market,” Yadav said.

Police officials said that seizure of such huge quantity of cannabis would lead to a thorough investigation that might require help from police of different states.

“We have information that cannabis produced in northeastern states especially Manipur has a huge demand in other states. Boxirhat in Cooch Behar and Pakriguri in Alipurduar are two common areas through which the narcotic is sent to other states. So, we beefed up security at Pakriguri area,” Yadav said. Police took the driver into custody through court for further interrogation.

According to sources, it has come to notice of Alipurduar police that cannabis-smugglers have changed the style of peddling the narcotic after police intensified inspection at bordering areas. “Artificial lofts are being made in vehicles to keep the smuggled cannabis hidden. Seizure of such large quantity of cannabis would definitely require a serious investigation,” a police official said. Meanwhile, Nayan Bora, Dipmoy Doimari and Hirkadao Mochari, three persons from Udalguri area in Assam were arrested from bus terminus area in Alipurduar today after 18 kilo of cannabis was confiscated from them. They were reportedly waiting for bus keeping the narcotic hidden in their apparels.