Kharibari, January 06 (Siliguri Chronicle) – Kharibari police have arrested a man for allegedly running an illegal drug trade under the guise of a tea stall near the India–Nepal border. The arrest followed a raid in the Gandogol Jote area under the jurisdiction of Kharibari police station.
During the operation, police seized 101 grams of brown sugar and 13 bottles of banned cough syrup. The accused has been identified as Nilkantha Barman, a resident of Gandogol Jote in the Panitanki area.
Police sources said Barman had been released from jail a few months ago and allegedly resumed drug trafficking soon after. He is accused of operating the illegal trade from a tea stall located along the national highway, using it as a front.
The contraband was recovered from a box bed inside the accused’s residence. Police estimated the market value of the seized drugs to be several lakh rupees.
Barman has been arrested under charges related to drug trafficking and was produced before the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court on Tuesday. Police said further investigation is ongoing to determine whether others are involved in the racket.
