CM sends out message against drug smuggling, crushes nearly 2 lakh seized cough syrup bottles with road roller

PTI, September 2, 2026, Alurghat: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday drove a road roller over nearly 2 lakh bottles of banned cough syrup in Balurghat, in a stern message against drug smuggling.

Accompanied by Union Minister and Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar, Adhikari drove the road roller and crushed the bottles lined up outside the SP office of the Dakshin Dinajpur district. State Health Minister Shardwat Mukhopadhyay was also present during the programme. The Chief Minister said the destruction was part of efforts to keep the country's youth away from drug addiction. "My first message through this is that we have to bring the youth out of drug addiction," he said.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign for a drug-free India, Adhikari said the initiative was "extremely relevant and timely". "We have seized a large quantity of narcotics since our government came to power.

Over the past four months, these drugs have been seized in joint operations by the BSF and the police. We destroyed them symbolically today. We will make West Bengal drug-free -- that is the message," he said.

The Chief Minister said that coordination between the BSF and the state police had improved along the Bangladesh border, stating that the seized Phensedyl cough syrup bottles were allegedly meant to be smuggled into the neighbouring country.

"Earlier, there was no coordination between the BSF and the police in Dakshin Dinajpur because the BSF was treated as an enemy. In the last four months, these narcotics have been recovered through joint operations," he said. Adhikari warned those involved in the smuggling of illegal cough syrup that they would face prolonged imprisonment.

This was his first visit to Balurghat since becoming Chief Minister.

Adhikari also announced that a medical college would be established in Balurghat.