AGARTALA, June 8 (TIWN): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Smuggling and Circulation Fake Currency Notes with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina with the ambitious plan of PM Modi from now would keep a strict vigil along with the bordering areas of the nation especially in Tripura to prevent the smuggling of contraband items which is rampant here.

Smuggling of Phensedyl a cough syrup, with an exceedingly high dose of codeine and other contraband items are increasing day by day in the state. A section of people alleged that due to the under table connection between police and smugglers the police are not doing anything to stop the smuggling of Phensedyl and contraband items.

Police often detain vehicles and seize thousands of bottles of Phensedyl consignments that are not used in Tripura but are supplied to Bangladesh. But, this is just the tip of the iceberg because the network is very deep rooted and widespread.

Consumption of alcohol is banned in Muslim majority Bangladesh and thus the demand of alternative means like cough syrup is on the rise in the neighbouring country. Numerous smugglers of both sides of border are engaged in illegal trade of Phensedyl as it gives them huge income.

Illegal intrusion of the extremist, smuggling of contraband items and cattle’s across Tripura to Bangladesh and vice-versa has become an everyday-issue. Despite the wire fencing across the border area Tripura has become the hub for transporting the prohibited goods.

It has not become possible to provide fencing in all side of the border. Thus the smuggling of cattle, human trafficking, fake currency, kidnapping and thefts are quite rampant along the border as there is lack of proper security arrangements in some parts of the bordering areas.

However but the locals along with the bordering areas of the state now keeps hope of a fruitful solution to the rising problem with PM Modi inked the MoU with his Bangladeshi counterpart with an aim to prevent the smuggling and circulation of fake currency notes.

Besides it is worthy to mention here that Tripura has reported as many as 13 cases of fake passport rackets in the last one year. In all the cases, passports were processed from different district magistrate offices of Tripura with fake documents. But in none of the cases could police could identify the culprits in the administration.