West Bengal police breakdown a drug cartel
During an extensive overnight operation, the Siliguri Metropolitan Police in the northern part of West Bengal, India, successfully dismantled a significant drug smuggling network. Five individuals were apprehended, and a substantial quantity of banned drugs was confiscated, as reported on Thursday.
Akhilesh Chaturvedi, the Commissioner of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police, disclosed that the seized brown sugar’s market value is estimated at approximately Rs 5 crore. Chaturvedi further stated that the five detainees are scheduled to be presented in the district court on Thursday, where a request for police custody will be made.
Local law enforcement sources revealed that the arrests and seizures occurred in two stages, commencing on Wednesday night. Acting on intelligence from informants, investigators launched their initial operation near the Siliguri Eastern Metropolitan Bypass.
This joint effort involved officers from the special operations group of the Siliguri Metropolitan Police and the Bhaktinagar Police Station. During this raid, three individuals—Rashid Sheikh, Durga Soren, and Pradip Munda—were apprehended for their involvement in possessing a substantial quantity of brown sugar.