An Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) of East Khasi Hills district police seized around 529 grams of heroin from a rented house at Madanrting area in Shillong.

The police also arrested a woman in connection with the seizure.

This is one of the biggest seizures of heroin in the city.

East Khasi Hills superintendent of police Claudia A Lyngwa told media persons on Wednesday that police arrested an accused, identified as 49-year-old Kim Neikhol Khongsai.

Khongsai was arrested after 529 gm of heroin worth over Rs 1 crore was seized from her rented house on Tuesday, said Lyngwa.

The accused hails from Manipur.

Khongsai was booked under 21 (C) of the NDPS Act.

The SP stated that police would go all out to nab drug suppliers,

Lyngwa also warned house and hotel owners for allowing their premises to be used for sale of drugs.

“The supply chain has to be cut off and from now on, action will be taken against house and hotel owners if their premises are used for selling drugs,” the SP warned.

“As per the NDPS Act, if house owners allow their premises for sale of drugs, they are liable for punishment. We are going to hit the house owners also from now on,” she added.

The SP informed that one more Anti-Narcotic Task Force would specifically go against drugs suppliers in the city and the locations used for hiding of drugs.

“We will also use narcotic dogs to detect drugs besides intensifying checking of vehicles entering the city,” said the SP.

“We are hitting the supply scene by targeting big time drug suppliers,” she added.

She admitted difficulties faced by the police in getting eye witnesses as some of village headmen and people are not willing to extend their support.

She cited the seizure of heroin at Madanrting on Tuesday that took nearly three hours for police to get witnesses.

The SP stressed that the society should also play a big role in eradicating drugs menace and urged headmen and village defense party (VDP) to assist police as witnesses.

“The NDPS Act does not allow seizures to be done only by police,” Lyngwa said while urging the people to extend support.

She said that drugs problem is increasing at an alarming rate and this problem is affecting the society in the state.