Drug manufacturing unit unearthed in Malda border village, ₹8 crore contraband seized

Police have uncovered an illegal drug manufacturing factory in Kumarpur village near the India-Bangladesh border in Malda district, dealing a major blow to narcotics operations in the region. The raid led to the arrest of five alleged drug dealers, including three women, and the seizure of a large quantity of contraband.

Acting on a tip-off, police raided a warehouse in the Kumarpur area of English Bazar in Malda. During the operation, officers recovered brown sugar worth approximately ₹8 crore, along with chemicals and various materials used in the production of the drug. Equipment believed to have been used for manufacturing brown sugar was also seized from the site. In addition to the narcotics, police recovered ₹8.78 lakh in cash from the warehouse. The arrested individuals include three persons from the Purnea and Samastipur districts of Bihar, while the remaining two are residents of English Bazar in Malda. Investigators said the warehouse was being used as a full-fledged manufacturing unit.

Police claimed that brown sugar was actively being produced inside the facility. An investigation has now been launched to identify other members of the gang and trace the supply network, with a focus on possible cross-border links due to the village’s proximity to the international border.