Joseph Kino, a man wanted for selling drugs in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR), Arunachal Pradesh was arrested by the Capital Police from his rented house at E-Sector in Naharlagun on Friday. 

During the raid, the police recovered suspected heroin weighing 146.41 grams from his possession. 

The police also recovered Rs 1.50 lakh in cash along with two laptops, two iPhones, an iPad and five android mobile phones. 

Naharlagun SDPO Dekio Gumja told reporters that Kino is a major drug dealer in ICR and was arrested following a tip-off from sources. 

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He said a case (No 89/21) under Section 21 (b) of the NDPS Act has been registered at the Naharlagun Police Station and the accused is being kept in police custody for further investigation. 

“The tip-off was received by the police on Thursday. Accordingly, a team comprising Officer In-charge (Inspector) Khiksi Yangpho and Sub-Inspector SS Jha and others conducted a surprise raid at Kino’s rented house,” he said. 

The sealing and packaging of the drug samples were done in presence of independent witnesses and Circle Officer Laxmi Dodum, he added. 

Gumja said the modus operandi of such drug-peddlers is that they build a chain of subordinate drug sellers. The main dealer doesn’t store the drugs in the house, hiding them somewhere not easily traceable, he said. 

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“The delivery of the drugs is through his delivery boys to the customers. Therefore, we make an effort to nab the head through the subordinate drug dealers,” he said.    

Gumja also said the accused is wanted in many police stations within ICR. 

He also clarified the confusion among the people on early release of drug dealers, stating that the police make all efforts to ensure drug dealers do not get easy bail. 

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: [email protected]