Murshidabad, 09 January (H.S.): Following an operation conducted by Murshidabad police over the past few days, Sagardighi police in the district has busted an interstate drug trafficking gang and seized a large quantity of heroin.

The police raided an illegal drug factory operating on the rooftop of a house and arrested four people, including two women. Approximately 5.287 kilograms of heroin were recovered from them, with an estimated international market value of around three crore rupees.

Jangipur SDPO Prabir Mandal stated on Thursday night that the police had received a tip-off about the illegal manufacture of narcotics inside a house in Kabilpur Koyalpara area of Sagardighi. Based on this information, a special team of police, led by Sagardighi police station's inspector in change(IC) Sumit Biswas, raided the house on Wednesday night. The police caught four people red-handed manufacturing heroin on the rooftop of the house.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Rakibul Sheikh, his wife Momina Bibi, Hasina Bibi, and Ibrahim Sheikh, a resident of Lalgola. Investigations revealed that Ibrahim Sheikh had been secretly operating this factory at his sister's house for a long time. Besides a large quantity of narcotics, police also recovered equipment and other materials used in the manufacture of heroin from the scene.

According to the SDPO, this heroin was being prepared for trafficking not only in local markets but also to other states. A case has been registered against the accused under the NDPS Act. When produced before a special court in Baharampur on Thursday, the judge remanded all four accused to 10 days of police custody. The police are now working to identify the main kingpin of the gang and the supply chain.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey