Staff Reporter.TOD.Balurghat
A late-night police raid in West Bengal's Malda district has uncovered what investigators believe is a major drug trafficking operation, leading to the seizure of nearly ₹24.1 million (₹2.41 crore) in cash, 9,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup and several other items suspected to be linked to the illegal trade.
The operation was carried out on Sunday night by a special team from the Dakshin Dinajpur district police, assisted by personnel from the Malda district police. According to Dakshin Dinajpur Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, the raid was launched after investigators developed crucial intelligence during the interrogation of a suspect arrested earlier in connection with another case.
Police searched a warehouse in the Old Malda area, where they recovered the large cash haul, thousands of bottles of codeine-based cough syrup, a currency-counting machine, approximately 20 grams of gold, a four-wheel vehicle and seven mobile phones. Officers believe the seized materials were being used to support an organized drug trafficking operation.Three Malda residents — Pintu Sarkar, Gopal Chaki and Sushanta Haldar — were arrested during the operation. Police said the accused will be produced before a district court on Monday, where investigators will seek seven days of police custody to facilitate further questioning and gather additional evidence.
Preliminary findings indicate the case may be linked to a wider interstate drug trafficking network operating across eastern India. Investigators are now examining financial transactions, digital evidence and communication records recovered during the raid to identify other individuals involved and trace the supply chain.Police said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests are possible as authorities work to determine the full scope of the alleged smuggling network and dismantle the criminal operation.
Subsequently, when the accused were produced before the Balurghat District Court, Judge Debarghya Biswas of the NDPS Third Court granted the police four days of custody for further investigation into the case.
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