Siliguri, 20th February: A joint operation by the SOG and Bhakti Nagar Police foiled a major brown sugar smuggling attempt from Malda to Siliguri, leading to the arrest of three alleged traffickers and the seizure of 451 grams of contraband valued at several lakhs of rupees.
The arrested accused have been identified as Jahedulla Momin, a resident of Malda, Iftarul of Ramganj, and Ram Kumar Mandal of Bhanunagar.
According to police sources, acting on a tip-off received yesterday, the SOG team along with plainclothes personnel from Bhakti Nagar Police Station launched an operation in the Indira Gandhi Maidan area. Three suspects were detained on suspicion and subsequently searched.
During the search, 451 grams of brown sugar was recovered from a bag in their possession. The trio was immediately arrested on charges of narcotics trafficking.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Jahedulla Momin and Iftarul had arrived near Indira Gandhi Maidan on a Sikkim-registered motorcycle to deliver the contraband to Ram Kumar Mandal. However, before the transaction could take place, the police apprehended them red-handed.
All three accused were produced before the Jalpaiguri court on Friday for further legal proceedings.