Imphal: The Anti-Narcotic Cell of the Manipur Police, with the assistance of the CRPF, arrested an alleged smuggler from Assam and recovered approximately 11 kg of raw opium during a joint operation in Manipur’s Senapati district.
The Manipur Police morning bulletin issued on Wednesday said that, acting on inputs from various sources about the movement of drug peddlers in vulnerable areas of the district, the joint team launched an operation on Tuesday.
According to the report, during routine frisking and checking at Nepali Khuti in Senapati district along National Highway-102 at around 4.30 pm, a joint team of the Special Operation Team of the Manipur Police and D-78 CRPF intercepted a vehicle and made a significant seizure.
During a thorough search of a Bolero vehicle (registration number AS-01-DS-9963), illegal items were detected, concealed inside the spare tyre, indicating a deliberate attempt to traffic contraband.
In the presence of an Executive Magistrate, the recovered substance was weighed and found to be 11.264 kg. The contraband, along with the vehicle and mobile phones, was seized in accordance with legal procedures.
The accused was identified as Nantu Deb (44), a resident of Mahishashan village in Karimganj district, Assam. He was handed over to Senapati Police Station for further legal action.
From his possession, the following items were seized:
(i) Opium weighing 11.3 kg;
(ii) One Bolero four-wheeler bearing registration number AS-01-DS-9963; and
(iii) Two mobile phones.
Police said a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 has been registered, and the arrested person and seized items are in police custody for further legal proceedings.
The report added that the successful operation reflects strong coordination, vigilance and commitment of the security forces in safeguarding society from the menace of drug trafficking.