Siliguri, 16th August: The Siliguri Metropolitan Police has achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing anti-drug campaign, marking its most significant accomplishment to date. In a collaborative effort between the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Bhaktinagar police station, a substantial quantity of brown sugar, valued at Rs 10 crore, was seized from a pickup van. Subsequently, three individuals have been apprehended on charges of involvement in brown sugar smuggling. The arrested suspects are identified as Rashid Sheikh, Durga Soren, and Pradeep Munda. Rashid Sheikh hails from Kaliachak in Malda, while Durga and Pradeep are residents of Kharibari.
It has been reported that the driver of the pickup van, Rashid Sheikh, arrived in Siliguri today with the intent to deliver a consignment of brown sugar. The SOG received intelligence regarding this operation and, in collaboration with the Bhaktinagar police station, intercepted and searched the pickup van near Mandal Petrol Pump along the Eastern Bypass. However, upon search, the van appeared to be empty. Subsequently, the authorities began questioning the three individuals under suspicion. As a result of this inquiry, three packets of brown sugar, collectively weighing 4.812 kilograms, were found concealed beneath the driver’s seat. The estimated market value of the seized brown sugar is approximately Rs 10 crore.
As per police sources, Rashid Sheikh had traveled to Siliguri from Malda with the intent to deliver the brown sugar, while Durga Soren and Pradeep Munda were the intended recipients. All three individuals have been arrested under the provisions of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act. The police will present the trio of accused individuals before the Jalpaiguri court on Thursday.