Siliguri, 03rd November: In a significant breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) seized a huge quantity of cannabis from a pickup van and apprehended two in the act. The arrested accused have been identified as Pradeep Sarkar and Sudeep Das, both residents of Cooch Behar.
As per reports, the STF received intelligence inputs regarding the smuggling through a vehicle from the Matigara area. Acting on the tip-off, the STF team launched an operation near the Phansidewa underpass of Matigara and apprehended the pickup van bearing R/No: WB 71/B/8748, on the basis of suspicion.
Upon initiating a search, 138.291 kg of cannabis was recovered from a secret chamber of the vehicle. The market value of the seized items is estimated to be around Rs 13 lakh. Subsequently, the driver and the assistant were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and handed over to the Matigara police station. On Friday, Matigara police produced both the accused before the Siliguri court.