24-year-old woman arrested with suspected brown sugar in Gangtok hotel

A 24-year-old woman was arrested on Monday evening from a hotel in Gangtok for allegedly possessing a large quantity of suspected brown sugar.

According to police reports, the arrest took place on July 21 at around 9:29 PM, when a team from Sadar Police Station, led by PI Deepa Sharma and including NK Kabita Sharma, acted on specific instructions from the Station House Officer (SHO). The team raided Blissful Stay Hotel at Panihouse, Gangtok, where the suspect was located in Room No. 103.

The woman, aged 24, was identified as a resident of Phongla, Namthang, in Namchi District. Acting on a tip-off and following proper legal procedures under Section 50 of the NDPS Act, 1985, and Section 24(1) of the Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act (SADA), 2006, the police conducted a search of the room in the presence of a magistrate and independent witnesses.

During the search, the police discovered a black sunglass case that contained suspected brown sugar packed in multiple pouches.

The total seizure included a collection of suspected brown sugar packed in various pouches. Police recovered seventeen blue plastic pouches containing brown-coloured dry powder, which together weighed 49.24 grams. In addition, twenty-one black plastic pouches were found, weighing a total of 29.66 grams. One more pouch—a white plastic one—was also seized, containing 0.54 grams of similar brown-coloured powder.

The total weight of the seized substance added up to approximately 79.44 grams. The items were photographed, packed, and sealed at the spot and marked as exhibits "01", "02", "03", and "D" in the presence of the magistrate and witnesses.

The woman could not produce any valid prescription or license for possessing such substances. Consequently, a case was registered under Section 22(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, at Sadar Police Station under FIR No. 99/2025.