By NE NOW NEWS
Aizwal: In two significant anti-drug operations in Mizoram, authorities seized more than 1.5 kg of heroin valued at over Rs 3 crore and arrested five individuals, officials said on Wednesday. The seizures are being viewed as a major setback to cross-border narcotics trafficking networks operating in the region.
In the first operation, conducted on Tuesday, officials of the Excise and Narcotics Department, assisted by the Central Anti Drugs Squad (CADS) of the Central Young Mizo Association (YMA), intercepted a large heroin consignment at Sihphir Neihbawi near Aizawl.
The joint team recovered 971 grams of heroin packed in 67 soap cases and arrested four persons allegedly involved in transporting the contraband. The accused were identified as Daniel Malsawmdawngliana (47) of Zokhawthar in Champhai district, Suwar Uddin Laskar (47) and Basir Uddin Laskar (26) from Assam’s Cachar district, and Hifjul Bahar (27) of Karimganj district. Two vehicles suspected to have been used for transporting the drugs were also seized.
According to preliminary investigations, the heroin originated from Zokhawthar near the Myanmar border and was being smuggled into Assam for further distribution.
In a separate case, Saitual police recovered 587 grams of heroin during a routine vehicle-checking operation at Keifan in Saitual district on Monday.
Police stopped a black Bolero Neo travelling from Churachandpur in Manipur towards Aizawl at around 3 a.m. During the inspection, officers became suspicious of one of the occupants, identified as Nengshi Haokip (51), a resident of Churachandpur district.
Following a search carried out under Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, police recovered 50 soap cases containing heroin concealed inside her clothing.
The combined value of the narcotics seized in the two operations has been estimated at more than Rs 3.3 crore. All five accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, officials added.