Reported by Avik Chakraborty
Dibrugarh: In a major breakthrough in its ongoing drive against narcotics trafficking, Dibrugarh Police arrested 10 individuals and seized suspected heroin, cash, vehicles, gold ornaments and other incriminating items during a large-scale anti-drug operation conducted at Harijan Colony near Dibrugarh Town Railway Station.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, multiple police teams carried out simultaneous raids at several abandoned railway colony quarters and other suspected hideouts believed to be linked to an organised drug trafficking network operating in the town.
During the operation, police recovered 79.55 grams of suspected heroin concealed in eight containers. A Vivo mobile phone along with a SIM card was also seized, which investigators believe may provide crucial leads in the ongoing investigation.
Authorities further recovered a substantial quantity of syringes allegedly used for drug consumption and distribution. The seizure included 40 packets containing 240 insulin syringes and six packets containing 60 high-tech insulin syringes.
Police also confiscated Rs 4,92,710 in cash, suspected to be proceeds from the illegal drug trade. Four vehicles allegedly linked to the network were seized, including a Renault Kwid, a Toyota Glanza, a NTORQ 125 scooter and a Jupiter scooter.
In addition, officers recovered several gold ornaments believed to have been purchased using money generated through narcotics trafficking. The recovered valuables include two pairs of gold earrings, a gold chain, a gold ring and a five-gram silver coin.
All 10 accused have been taken into custody and are being interrogated. Police sources said several additional names have emerged during the investigation, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend other individuals suspected of being connected to the network.
Investigators are currently examining the source of the seized narcotics, the financial transactions involved, and the wider distribution chain operating in the region.
The operation is being regarded as one of the most significant anti-drug crackdowns in Dibrugarh in recent years. According to police sources, an organised drug syndicate had allegedly been operating from abandoned railway quarters near the old railway station for a considerable period. While the raids led to multiple arrests and major recoveries, the alleged kingpin of the network reportedly managed to escape and remains absconding.
Speaking to reporters, Dibrugarh Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Nayan Moni Baruah said, “We have arrested 10 individuals in connection with drug trafficking and seized suspected heroin along with other incriminating materials. More than Rs 4 lakh in cash has been recovered from their possession. Based on intelligence inputs received over the past several days, we conducted a surprise raid which led to these arrests.”
He added that the investigation is ongoing, and that further arrests and recoveries are expected in the coming days. All those arrested have been booked under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.