The Jatrapur Police in Tripura’s Sepahijala district have arrested three Bangladeshi nationals after seizing a large quantity of cannabis from Baidyanath village near the India-Bangladesh border. Acting on a tip-off, the local police, in coordination with the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), conducted the raid in the early hours of April 28 and recovered two large plastic drums filled with dried cannabis.
The arrested individuals, identified as residents of the Comilla district in Bangladesh, reportedly entered Indian territory through an unfenced stretch of the border during the night. Police said the suspects carried the narcotic substance in drums typically used for storing water. The operation took place under the jurisdiction of Dhanpur Panchayat, a known hotspot for smuggling activities.
According to police officials, the trio failed to provide any valid documents or reasonable explanation for their presence inside Indian territory. Investigators believe the accused were part of a larger cross-border smuggling network that has been operating in the region for several months. The police have launched further investigations to track down their Indian counterparts and other facilitators involved in the drug racket.
The seizure marks a significant success in Tripura’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking along its porous international boundary. Police noted that drug smugglers increasingly use remote villages like Baidyanath as transit points due to the lack of physical barriers and difficult terrain. Law enforcement agencies have heightened vigilance in such zones and are deploying additional resources to counter the growing challenge.
District Superintendent of Police B. Jamatia confirmed the arrests and said that the accused would face charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The police have also contacted the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi to inform them about the detention of their nationals and initiate legal procedures for consular access.
Local villagers expressed shock over the incident. Some residents of Baidyanath said they had seen suspicious movement in the area for the last few nights. However, they remained unaware of the scale of the smuggling operation until the police crackdown.
Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have also increased patrolling in nearby areas to prevent any retaliatory attempts or further smuggling activities. Officials are reviewing security arrangements and planning to install surveillance cameras at key crossing points to monitor illegal infiltration.
The Tripura government has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking. Officials from the state Home Department have called for better coordination between border forces, police, and intelligence agencies to dismantle transnational criminal networks. Authorities are also considering using drone surveillance and satellite imagery to monitor high-risk zones along the international border.
In recent years, Tripura has emerged as a preferred corridor for smuggling narcotics like cannabis and heroin from Myanmar and Bangladesh into mainland India. Officials suspect that local smugglers work closely with operatives across the border, exploiting gaps in surveillance and border fencing.
The government has also launched awareness programs in border villages to educate locals about the consequences of drug-related activities and the importance of community cooperation in tackling smuggling. Police said community members play a critical role in reporting suspicious movements and ensuring collective vigilance.
As of now, the three arrested Bangladeshi nationals remain in police custody and will be produced before a local court for judicial remand. Authorities are preparing a detailed dossier on their movement, background, and possible links to drug cartels operating from across the border.
With this latest bust, the Tripura police have once again demonstrated their commitment to curbing cross-border crime. Officials emphasized that similar operations would continue in the coming weeks as part of a broader strategy to secure the state’s borders and protect youth from the menace of drugs.
Following the arrest, police officials conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area to ensure no other accomplices were hiding or monitoring the operation from a distance. The search yielded additional packaging material and mobile SIM cards believed to have been used for cross-border communication. Investigators sent the confiscated items for forensic analysis to help trace the origins of the supply chain.
Senior police officers from Sepahijala and intelligence agencies also visited the site to assess the broader implications of the incident. They suspect that this route may have been used multiple times in the past, and the recent seizure could be just the tip of the iceberg. Surveillance teams are now analyzing phone records and digital trails found on seized mobile phones to identify higher-level operatives in the network.
Meanwhile, anti-narcotics units across the state have intensified inspections of inter-district routes frequently used by smugglers to move illicit substances from border regions to mainland markets. Police have issued an advisory to bus and truck drivers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious packages or passengers, especially near the border checkpoints.
Local NGOs working in the area have urged the administration to not only crack down on smugglers but also offer rehabilitation programs for young people who get trapped in these illegal trades due to poverty and unemployment. They emphasized the need for livelihood programs and cross-border peace-building efforts to reduce dependency on such risky and criminal networks.
Tripura’s border villages like Baidyanath, while remote, are becoming increasingly important in the fight against drug trafficking. With law enforcement agencies stepping up their game and communities growing more alert, the state aims to prevent its lands from being exploited as transit hubs for the international drug trade.