Malda, Aug. 5 -- The investigation into the recovery of over Rs 2.41 crore cash, 20 grams of gold and a huge consignment of banned cough syrup from Malda has gathered pace, with the Malda district police and the BSF preparing to visit South Dinajpur.
Malda SP Anupam Singh said that a joint team of the district police and the BSF would travel to South Dinajpur within the next two days to question the accused and trace the wider network. The development follows a raid in which officers recovered Rs 2,41,97,370 in cash and 20 grams of gold. In a separate search at a warehouse, police seized nearly 9,000 bottles of banned cough syrup with an estimated market value of Rs 20 lakh.
Police suspect that the recovered cash represented proceeds from the illegal cough syrup trade. Three persons from Malda have been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators believe that cough syrup was intended to be smuggled into Bangladesh through the Indo-Bangladesh border.
"The investigation is progressing in multiple directions. A joint team of Malda Police," said the SP.
In view of the case, the district police have also decided to tighten surveillance over rented accommodations, apartment complexes and residential buildings across English Bazar and Old Malda.
Appealing to residents, the Superintendent of Police urged landlords to exercise caution before renting out their properties. "We request all property owners to verify the identity and background of prospective tenants before renting out their premises. If necessary, inform the local police station. Since Malda is a border district, such precautions are essential to prevent anti-social and illegal activities," Singh said.
Police officials indicated that tenant verification drives and intelligence-based monitoring of rented properties would be intensified in the coming weeks as part of efforts to curb cross-border smuggling and dismantle organised criminal networks operating in the border district.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.