Soreng Police seize brown sugar, arrest one in anti-drug operation
Police confirmed that Akhil Akhtar, who works as a tailor in Soreng, had long been under surveillance due to suspicions of involvement in illegal drug activities.
LOCAL
To curb the menace of drugs in Sikkim, Soreng District Police made a significant breakthrough on Friday by arresting a suspected drug peddler and recovering a quantity of suspected brown sugar from his possession. The arrest was made during a special operation carried out near Church Fatak, close to Bhir Dara in Soreng.
According to police officials, the operation was conducted around 4:00 PM on June 21, 2025, when officers stopped a Spacio taxi bearing registration number SK02J/0424. The taxi was operating on the Siliguri–Soreng route, and the suspect was traveling in it. On checking the vehicle, police apprehended one individual identified as Akhil Akhtar, a resident of Islampur, currently residing at Daragoan in Soreng.
During the search, officers recovered a black plastic pouch from the suspect. The pouch contained a mud-coloured substance suspected to be brown sugar, weighing approximately 8.33 grams. The substance was seized on the spot, and the suspect was taken into custody.
Police confirmed that Akhil Akhtar, who works as a tailor in Soreng, had long been under surveillance due to suspicions of involvement in illegal drug activities. The case has now been registered under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as well as under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and a full investigation is currently underway.
Superintendent of Police for Soreng District, Shri Nahkul Pradhan (SPS), stated that this operation was part of ongoing efforts to make Soreng a drug-free district. “The fight against drug abuse is a serious and ongoing mission for the district police,” he said. “This arrest is just one step in a larger campaign to eliminate drugs from our communities.”
SP Pradhan also made a strong appeal to the people of Soreng to come forward and support the police in their campaign. “It is not just the responsibility of the police, but of every citizen to help us in this fight. Together, we can make Soreng a Nasha Mukta District free from the evils of drug abuse for the betterment of our youth and for a brighter future,” he added.