Siliguri, 04th August: The Special Task Force (STF) has arrested the alleged kingpin of a brown sugar trafficking racket operating between Malda and Siliguri after a two-month-long investigation.
The accused, identified as Shyamal Mondal, a resident of Kaliachak in Malda district, was brought to Siliguri from Malda Correctional Home on a production warrant and produced before the court. He was formally arrested in connection with the case.
According to STF sources, Shyamal Mondal had allegedly been involved in inter-district drug trafficking for a long time. Investigation revealed that instead of transporting the contraband himself, he allegedly used women as carriers to smuggle brown sugar in an attempt to evade police detection.
The case dates back to 04th June, when the STF conducted a raid in the NJP area based on specific information and arrested two women, Sadhana Mondal (30) and Debjani Mondal (55), with 400 grams of brown sugar. Both were produced before Siliguri court on 05th June and remanded to police custody.
During the investigation, STF learnt that Kolkata STF had arrested Shyamal Mondal in another case on 06th July, 2026, and handed him over to Kaliachak Police, following which he was lodged in Malda Correctional Home.
After obtaining a production warrant from the court, the accused was brought to Siliguri under tight security on Tuesday. STF has sought seven days’ police custody for further interrogation.