Agartala, June 16, 2025: In a significant breakthrough against smuggling activities in North Tripura, police personnel from Dharmanagar Police Station seized 70,000 Burmese cigarettes during a naka checking operation late last night. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the seizure.
According to police sources, the operation was conducted near the Anandabazar SPO camp under Dharmanagar police station jurisdiction. A luxury vehicle bearing registration number TR-05-G-0597 was intercepted and searched. During the inspection, seven cartons each containing 10,000 Burmese-made cigarettes were recovered from the vehicle.
“Based on intelligence and routine checking, we intercepted the vehicle and recovered a total of 70,000 cigarettes smuggled from Myanmar,” said Police Officer Suleman Reang, who was on night duty and led the operation. “Three youths were apprehended, and legal proceedings have been initiated. The campaign against cigarette smuggling will continue with full force,” he added
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sourav Sinha from the Damcherra area and Prakash Debnath and Biswajit Debnath, both residents of Chamtila under Panisagar subdivision.
The recovered cigarettes were packed in seven cartons, contradicting earlier reports that mistakenly quoted a higher figure. Police clarified that the actual recovery was of seven cartons and not nine.
This incident is part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal cigarette trade in the district. Notably, in March this year, 40 cartons of Burmese cigarettes were recovered from a vehicle following an accident in the Rajnagar area. Although no immediate arrests were made in that case, two suspects were later apprehended.
“The fight against contraband smuggling, especially Burmese cigarettes, is a top priority for us in this region,” Officer Reang emphasized.
The arrested individuals are currently in custody, and further investigations are underway to uncover the broader network behind the smuggling racket.
