Two held with heroin worth Rs 4 Cr

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 1: In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and CRPF arrested two persons and seized 168 soap cases containing 2.1 kilograms of heroin worth around Rs 4 crore this afternoon in Imphal East district.
The two arrested persons have been identified as Bigyan Baniya (21) of Tuilangphai, Kangpokpi and Manoj Chettry (27) of Kohima Sadar, Nagaland.
The two were travelling in a Mahindra Bolero vehicle when they were intercepted at Kongpal Chingabam Road. The two were attempting to flee after noticing police presence, said Shivanand Surve, Superintendent of Police of Imphal East.
Surve said the search of the vehicle led to recovery of 168 soap cases containing 2.1 kilograms of heroin estimated to be around Rs 4 crore in the international market.
A case has been registered and further investigation is on to identify wider networks and linkages behind the drug trafficking racket.
Notably, this seizure of heroin came as reports of arrest of three Manipur residents and seizure of large quantities of drugs in Assam and Mizoram surfaced.
In Assam, Cachar police and Assam Rifles arrested two women residents of Tamenglong's Tollen village and seized 30,000 Yaba tablets and 535 grams of heroin worth Rs 9.5 crore yesterday (June 30).
The two women were arrested near Tollengram in Assam's Cachar. The drugs were found concealed inside jars filled with red chillies to evade detection.
On June 29, a woman resident of Chandel was arrested by Mizoram police and Assam Rifles at Seling, Aizawl.
From her possession, the joint team of the Mizoram Police and Assam Rifles recovered 150.97 grams of heroin worth Rs 1.13 crore. On June 29, Manipur police had also arrested two Rajasthan residents at Jiribam and seized 5 kilograms of opium.
Meanwhile, briefing media persons, Imphal East SP Surve said the police are intensifying efforts to dismantle inter-State drug trafficking networks and identify the kingpins behind illicit trades. The police are making every effort to apprehend drug smugglers as well as the kingpins and their associates, Surve said, seeking public cooperation.