Agartala, November 26, 2025: Tripura Police, in coordination with the Crime Branch, on Wednesday destroyed a large consignment of banned cough syrups valued at ₹1.25 crore. The narcotics had been seized in July this year from Ambassa in Dhalai district and were disposed of following a court directive under the supervision of the High-Level Drug Destruction Committee.

IG Crime Branch Avula Ramesh Reddy, IPS, who heads the committee, said the case was originally lodged in Ambassa before being handed over to the Crime Branch for an extensive probe. During the investigation, officials confiscated more than 59,000 bottles of Eskuf, a cough syrup banned for its frequent misuse as a narcotic substance.

Reddy said the destruction was carried out in an open space to maintain complete transparency. He added that several cases under the NDPS Act are currently under investigation as the police intensify efforts against drug smuggling networks in the state.

Reaffirming Tripura Police’s goal of achieving a “Nesha Mukt Tripura,” the IG highlighted the scale of narcotics challenges faced by the state. He said the market value of the destroyed contraband stood at ₹1.25 crore.

Speaking on preventive measures, Reddy noted that under the Prayas Abhiyan, police have been conducting awareness programmes in schools, colleges and other institutions to curb substance abuse. He urged the public to report emergencies through toll-free number 112 and share information related to drug peddling via helpline 1933 or channels of the Narcotics Control Bureau.

He also warned that school-going children remain highly vulnerable to drug-related exploitation and stressed the importance of vigilance by parents, teachers, youth organisations and government agencies. The state’s stringent anti-drug laws, he said, make it critical for young people to stay away from narcotics activities.