Three peddlers arrested with marijuana worth Rs 56.5 lakh in Tripura

Bishalgarh (Tripura) [India], Sept. 10 (ANI): On specific inputs, a special operation was carried out by the Bishalgarh Police, which recovered huge quantity of marijuana hidden in a truck near Gokulnaga rail bridge area of bordering Sepahijala district of Tripura. This is one of the biggest catch of dry marijuana (locally called ganja) worth around Rs. 56.5 lakhs, which was found hidden in a truck bearing a Nagaland registration number. Only five days back, in a similar incident, another consignment of marijuana worth around Rs. 44 lakh was recovered in a joint operation of BSF and police in the same district. Sepahijal district Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudipta Das said, "Bishalgarh Police staff led by SDPO Bishalgarh and Officer-in-Charge of Bishalgarh Police Station detained one truck bearing Nagaland registration plate near Gokulnagar rail bridge. Upon search of the truck about 1130 kg of dry ganja were found concealed behind driver's compartment. All the packets were air tight, air sealed; we estimate the value of the ganja to be about Rs. 56.5 lakh that is a conservative estimate." Three persons including the driver, co-driver and assistant were arrested along with some cash in suspect and are under interrogation. Das added, "We have arrested three persons who were on the truck along with Rs. 21,500 cash. We suspect that the truck was heading towards Agartala and from there towards Guwahati." According to police, Sepahijala district has turned into one of the prime areas of illegal cultivation of marijuana, especially in the deep forest and bordering areas where the presence of security forces is comparatively less. Last year, the BSF destroyed more than six lakh ganja plants in the district here in Tripura. Meanwhile, during the month of August, the Bishalgarh Police had seized around 1,500 kg of dry ganja destined for smuggling across the border to Bangladesh. Smuggling of different contraband items is on the rise across the state despite security agencies making relentless efforts to curb the illegal trade. (ANI)