Siliguri STF Arrests Key Supplier in Brown Sugar Racket

The Special Task Force (STF) of Siliguri has successfully arrested a primary supplier involved in a major brown sugar smuggling network operating between Malda and Siliguri. The accused, identified as Shyamla Mandal, was brought to Siliguri from Malda jail under a production warrant and formally arrested following a two-month-long investigation.

Modus Operandi of the Smuggling Ring

Investigations revealed that Shyamla Mandal, a resident of Kaliachak in the Malda district, was deeply involved in inter-district drug smuggling. To avoid police detection, he intentionally avoided carrying the contraband himself. Instead, he recruited women to act as carriers to transport brown sugar, believing they would be less likely to be stopped or searched by law enforcement officials.

Background of the Investigation

This case began on June 4 when the STF received a tip-off leading to an operation in the NJP area. During this raid, authorities seized 400 grams of brown sugar and arrested two women, 50-year-old Sadhana Mandal and 55-year-old Devjani Mandal. Following their arrest, both women were produced in the Siliguri court on June 5 and placed on remand to assist with further inquiries into the drug network.

Legal Proceedings and Arrest

Further investigation linked the racket to Shyamla Mandal, who had been arrested by the Kolkata STF in an unrelated case on July 6 and was subsequently held in Malda jail. The Siliguri STF filed a production prayer in court, which was granted by the magistrate. On Tuesday, the accused was brought to Siliguri under tight security and formally arrested in connection with the ongoing brown sugar smuggling case.