Agartala, May 12: A drug traffickers was awarded imprisonment for 20 years and fined Rs. 1 lakh by the District and Sessions Court, Dhalai on Tuesday. The court passed the verdict in connection with a massive seizure of brown sugar and Yaba tablets under the NDPS Act.

The convict, identified as Supankar Debnath (35) of Dhanpur in Sepahijala district, was directed to pay a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. The court further ruled that failure to pay the penalty would result in an additional one-year rigorous imprisonment.

The case dates back to August 10, 2024, when Ambassa police launched an operation after receiving confidential inputs regarding transportation of narcotic substances in a Bolero vehicle.

Police intercepted the vehicle near Chamalcherra, but the driver allegedly tried to escape, triggering a chase that ended after the vehicle met with an accident. While two occupants reportedly fled from the spot, police managed to apprehend Debnath.

During a search conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses, police recovered 587.52 grams of brown sugar packed inside 49 soap cases along with 80,000 Yaba tablets hidden in a specially built secret chamber of the vehicle.

Following the seizure, Ambassa police registered a case and launched an investigation. The probe was led by Sub-Inspector Joy Thapa, who later submitted the charge sheet before the court on December 31, 2024.

After examining the evidence and witnesses during the course of the trial, the District and Sessions Judge, Dhalai announced the accused guilty under multiple sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Apart from the NDPS charges, the court also convicted the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and MV Act related to rash driving and causing injury.