‘Large-scale narco-terror conspiracy’: Tripura High Court warns of deadly link between drug influx, HIV surge in state

Background

• On July 31, 2025, the police and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel acted on secret information regarding a red vehicle parked near Jatrapur in Tripura.
• A search of the vehicle yielded 14,000 yaba tablets, weighing approximately 1.49 kg.
• Yaba is an illicit stimulant drug composed of methamphetamine and caffeine.
• Subsequent investigation led the authorities to a house where the petitioners were detained.
• The accused were arrested and charged under sections 22(C)(where the contravention involves commercial quantity), 25 (allowing premises to be used for commission of offence), and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
• Their first bail application was dismissed on January 16, 2026.
• Appearing for the petitioners, Senior Advocate S Kar Bhowmik and advocate E L Darlong argued that no contraband had been recovered from the possession of the petitioners, nor was there any live link established between the petitioners and the allegedly seized contraband. Falsely, the petitioners have been roped into the present case.
• They further submitted that there was no independent witness for the search and seizure of the alleged contraband.
• Representing the state, Public Prosecutor R Datta submitted that there are sufficient incriminating materials indicating that all the three accused had conscious possession of the seized articles and, therefore, Section 37 (offences to be cognizable and non-bailable) of the NDPS Act will apply.

Findings

• It is represented in several cases by the respective advocates that each yaba tablet is sold at around Rs 1,000 as per demand.
• In the present case, 14,000 tablets, worth Rs 1.40 crore, have been seized.
• The youths of Tripura are sinking day by day under the influence of this narcotic, which cannot be ignored. The addiction is increasing day by day.
• A prima facie case has been made out by the prosecution against the accused, and there is a serious allegation of crime against society and humanity.
• It is a large-scale narco-terror conspiracy involving transitional actors and possible enemy-state-sponsored involvement.
• A perusal of the chargesheet submitted by the investigating agency clearly demonstrates that it is in compliance with the required statutes.