AGARTALA, November 17 (TIWN): Smuggling of Phensedyl a cough syrup with an exceedingly high dose of codeine, high dose of painkillers with drugs and other contraband items are increasing day by day in the state. The police, administration and BSF are doing their best to stop smuggling of these contraband items. But they are unable stop the smuggling of contraband items as the smuggler gangs are hand in glove with ruling party and corrupt govt officals, said a highly placed police source. Even though Tripura's Police force and intelligence network is fully capable of tackling this statewide drug menace but evil nexus of political powers,mafia and civil administration keeping police force as mute spectators.On the issue of narcotics, no amount of laws seems to be enough to reign in the production and distribution of banned substances. Tripura railways are also becoming a new pathway for the import and export of drugs and phensedyl smuggling, said a highly placed police source.

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 police official said.

According to the source, hundreds of smugglers based in Tripura are sending spurious Phensedyl, a cough syrup, with an exceedingly high dose of codeine and other drugs to Bangladesh virtually by the truckload, hundreds of acres of remote land in West Tripura have become sprawling ganja plantations.

Arms and phensidyl seized by Ambassa police on Oct 29,2014. TIWN File Photo

Consumption of alcohol is banned in Muslim majority Bangladesh and thus the demand of alternative means like cough syrup is on the rise in the neighbouring country. Numerous smugglers of both sides of border are engaged in illegal trade of Phensedyl as it gives them huge income, the source added.

Large parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar are emerging as drug consuming zones, and bordering areas of Tripura are contributing to the fast-emerging 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.