AGARTALA, November 4 (TIWN): Railways in Tripura becoming a new pathway for the import and export trade of Phensedyl smuggling. According to sources, around 100 youths are connected with the Phensedyl smuggling through railways. These youths used to carry Phensedy from Kumarghat to Agartala. And the youths are storing the Phensedyl in a godown near Khayerpur, the source added.
On the issue of narcotics, no amount of laws seems to be enough to reign in the production and distribution of banned substances. The smuggling of Phensedyl a cough syrup, with an exceedingly high dose of codeine is gaining momentum in the state, said a highly placed police sources.It is to be mentioned here that large parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar are emerging as drug consuming zones, and bordering areas of Tripura are contributing to the fast-emerging multi-crore drugs market, the source mentioned.

"We are well aware of the situation and the police often detain vehicles and seize thousands of bottles of Phensedyl consignments that are not used in Tripura. But, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The network is very deep-rooted and widespread. The Phensedyl smuggling would, in future, become a major deterrent to better Indo-Bangla relations," the source further said.

One bottle of Phensedyl costs about Rs 90, but it is sold at Taka 600 or more in Bangladesh. The source added that complete fencing of Tripura’s 856km boundary with Bangladesh would prevent smuggling menace. Organized Phensedyl smuggling via Tripura will easily cross over Rs. 5 to 10 crores every month, sources added.

Barbed wire fencing already completed along three fourth of international border in state and work of wire fencing is slow due to protests by local residents, geographical barriers or demarcation row with Bangladesh, the source added.

File Photo : Phensedyl  seized at Sonamura, near Indo-Bangla Border by a joint team led by SDM Sonamura Subhashis Das and BSF Team on Sept 11, 2014