Sonamura, December 28 (TIWN): Marking a huge success in the ongoing drive of the Sonamura Sub-Divisional Administration against the powerful smuggling rackets of narcotic drug dealers, about 3000 bottles of Codeine Phosphate based syrups branded as Phensedyl, Eskuf, Cosco and Choco were seized early morning today from Rangamatia area of Sonamura, carrying a market-value of about Rs.9 lakh.

Acting on the secret information provided yesterday night to the SDM Sonamura, Subhasis Das, a joint team of Sub-Divisional Administration, BSF 29 Battalion and local Police Administration started raiding some specific locations in Rangamatia area early in the morning today, right from 6.00 a.m. Since the information available with the SDM Sonamura was very specific, it was decided that the raid would be undertaken immediately notwithstanding today being a holiday.

It may be mentioned that the area where the raid was conducted is located in the close vicinity of the residence of a very infamous drug-dealer in Sonamura. During the raid operation that went on for about 2 hours till 8.00 p.m., 2985 bottles of Codeine Phosphate formulations were recovered from three abandoned places, out of which 1050 bottles are of Corex brand, 1600 bottles of Choco brand, 175 bottles of Phensedyl brand and 160 bottles of Eskuf brand. Today’s was the second such operation in recent times in the Rangamatia area when large amounts of narcotic drug have had been recovered, throwing up a serious challenge to the might of the narcotic drug dealers of the Sub-Division.

The raid-team consisted total of 29 personnel, with 21 being drawn in from BSF, 5 from local Police authorities, and 3 from the Sonamura Sub-Divisional Administration. The raid was headed by SDM Sonamura, accompanied by the SDPO Sonamura, Asok Kr. Sinha, Asst. Commandants of BSF 29 Battalion, Rakesh Mishra and Dinesh Singh. During the operation, no resistance was encountered, and nobody came forward to stake any claim to the recovered articles. Due to sustained vigilance and drive of the Administration, the reign of drug operatives has now come under tremendous strain and their anxiety over leaking out of inside information has become all too palpable.

Meanwhile, the joint team of Sub-Divisional Administration and Security forces is doggedly pursuing its efforts to destroy the illicit Ganja plantations across the Sub-Division, with the latest in the series of destruction operations having been carried out in Barmura area of Uttar Paharpur Gram Panchayat under Jatrapur Police Station, during which 25,000 ganja plants spread over about 20 acre area were cut down. The SDM Sonamura has asserted that similar operations would continue unabated, till the time a deterrent leash is put around the thriving narcotic business in the Sub-Division, which has been alluring even many resourceful outsiders to invest heavily in such plantations, giving rise to a veritable mafia culture, and spoiling the socio-cultural milieu of the Sub-Division.