Agartala, July 03, 2025: In a major breakthrough in the fight against narcotics, Tripura Police on Wednesday night arrested a youth with 10,000 yaba tablets estimated to be worth over ₹50 lakh in the illegal drug market at Bagbasa.

The arrest took place during routine naka checking at the Bagbasa police checkpoint. According to police sources, officers noticed a youth attempting to flee from a line vehicle after spotting the police presence. Acting swiftly, the police chased and apprehended the suspect. A thorough search led to the recovery of 10,000 yaba tablets, weighing over one kilogram.

The accused has been identified as Abdul Ata, son of Emad Uddin, and a resident of Rani village under Nilam Bazar police station in the neighboring state of Assam.

Following the incident, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Sandeep Debbarma and SDPO rushed to the spot to oversee the situation. The operation was jointly conducted by personnel from Bagbasa Police Station, led by Officer-in-Charge Partha Deb, and the Tripura State Rifles (TSR).

Police have registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and a detailed probe into the wider drug trafficking network has been launched. Initial findings suggest the seized consignment may be linked to a businessman from the Batarshi area of Dharmanagar.

Abdul Ata is scheduled to be produced before court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked public debate over the effectiveness of border security. Many locals have questioned how the contraband crossed the interstate border at Churaibari undetected, only to be intercepted further downstream by Bagbasa police. While the swift action by Bagbasa police has been widely lauded, some view it as an indirect indictment of the vigilance at the Churaibari checkpoint.