In a landmark judgment, a special court of North Tripura district on Tuesday sentenced two drug smugglers into 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in a specific case registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.

Giving details, Public Prosecutor (PP) of North Tripura district, advocate Partha Paul said that based on secret information over deliver of a consignment of contraband items, the Dharmanagar police station of June 28, 2024 has detained two persons moving in a numberless scooty at Dharmanagar town and in the course of search operation, police recovered a total of 17,100 Yaba tablets under the possession of two drug smugglers, identified as Relsi Halam and Thangiayami Halam were arrested.

Police has also registered a specific case under section 29 (2), 25 and 32 of NDPS Act and after arresting both smugglers, police completing their investigation filed the charge-sheet before the court, said Partha Paul.

The Public Prosecutor also said that during the trial of the case, a total of 12 witnesses recorded their statements before the District and Session Judge court of North Tripura district.

On July 25, 2025, the Special Judge, Angshuman Debbarma during hearing of the case, pronounced guilty of drug smuggling  and on Tuesday (July 29) sentenced both of them 20 years of rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs. 1 lakh each else imprisonment of six more months.