AGARTALA, November 18 (TIWN): A large section of youths of the city are consuming the Contraband items like Phensedyl, corex and banded medicinal Capsules/tablets etc, due to the easy availability of these Contraband items in local markets.

On the issue of narcotics, no amount of laws seems to be enough to reign in the production and distribution of banned substances. Most of the shops at M.G. Bazaar are selling these Contraband items and some shops at Battala are selling ganja (cannabis) openly infront of the police. But the police are not taking any major steps to stop this illegal business due to under table connection between the police and the smugglers, a highly placed source of police department said.

Police are well aware of the situation but they did not any action against, the source added. The Smugglers networks are very deep-rooted and widespread. The smuggling of these contraband items would, in future, become a major deterrent to better Indo-Bangla relations, 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 smuggling of these contraband items would, in future, become a major deterrent to better Indo-Bangla relations. Due to easy availability of these contraband items a large section of youths of the city are becoming addicted.  Smugglers based in Tripura are sending these contraband items to Bangladesh virtually by the truckload, hundreds of acres of remote land in West Tripura have become sprawling ganja plantations, the source informed. According to the source, 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.