According to police officials, Enarul Sheikh, a resident of Malda district, is a central figure in a large-scale brown sugar manufacturing and trafficking operation. He was apprehended after an intensive search operation that lasted several hours. The accused was taken into custody without incident and later handed over to Malda police.
Malda Superintendent of Police Abhijit Banerjee said on Tuesday that preliminary findings indicate the syndicate generated illegal profits amounting to several thousand crore rupees. “The accused played a key role in sourcing narcotics raw materials, coordinating production, and managing interstate distribution,” the officer said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.
The crackdown led to another significant arrest, with police detaining Enarul’s uncle, Bhablu alias Shawkat Sheikh. Investigators believe the two were instrumental in bringing drug-making materials into West Bengal from Manipur, Assam and other northeastern states. These materials were allegedly transported through well-established supply routes before being processed locally.
Police said brown sugar was manufactured in pockets of Malda’s Kaliachak area, where Enarul reportedly trained local youths in drug processing techniques. Once prepared, the narcotics were distributed through a network of agents operating across Bihar, Jharkhand and other states. Several associates linked to the syndicate have previously been implicated in violent gang clashes in the Kaliachak region, officials added.
Investigators have also traced recent financial investments made by the accused in the construction sector, suggesting an attempt to launder proceeds from the drug trade. Enarul Sheikh was produced before a Malda district court on Tuesday, where police sought 10 days of custody to facilitate further interrogation and recovery of additional evidence.
Authorities described the arrest as a major success in the state’s ongoing anti-narcotics campaign. Police confirmed that the probe has now widened to examine possible cross-border links with Bangladesh and to verify alleged political and influential connections of the accused. Officials said they are analysing financial records, call data and property documents to identify the full extent of the network and all individuals involved.
Further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses, police said.
