Police foil arms and drug smuggling plot in Farakka! Youth arrested from National Highway, 199 bottles of phensedyl and firearm recovered

**Farakka:** A man was caught by police on charges of arms and drug smuggling before he could reach his destination. The recovery of a large quantity of banned cough syrup, a firearm and cartridges from National Highway 12 in Farakka, Murshidabad, has caused a stir in the area.

According to police sources, Farakka police station arrested a man named Sakirul Sheikh (35) during a raid near the NTPC crossing on National Highway 12 late on Friday night. The accused lives in Kazipara area under Sagarpara police station.

Police claim that a total of 199 bottles of phensedyl cough syrup were recovered from the accused. Along with this, one firearm, two magazines and four rounds of live cartridges were recovered.

According to police sources, after receiving a tip-off about the smuggling, investigators had been lying in wait near the National Highway on Friday night. Sakirul was detained after he was seen loitering suspiciously. Searching two bags he was carrying led to the recovery of a large quantity of phensedyl. Later, a body search revealed the firearm and cartridges.

Investigators' preliminary assessment is that the accused came to Farakka from Jharkhand carrying arms and drugs. He had planned to travel by bus from there towards Berhampore. However, his plan was foiled by the swift action of the police before he could reach his destination.

Farakka police station has already begun an investigation. On Saturday the accused was produced in court and a plea for 10 days of police custody was submitted. Investigators are looking into who else is involved in this smuggling racket, where the arms and drugs were brought from, and whether a larger gang is operating behind it.

Police are trying to reach the roots of the smuggling racket by interrogating the accused.