Drug worth Rs 1 crore seized by Customs

SHILLONG, AUG 6: In yet another big drug haul in Meghalaya, a huge cache of high quality heroin and cannabis worth over Rs 1 crore were seized from the possession of two persons.

It is also a worrying trend in the state’s capital – Shillong as it is becoming a transit point for heroin. Earlier, heroin of high quality worth over Rs 1 crore was also seized from the heart of the city on June 28.

Acting on tip off, custom sleuths intercepted an empty ten-wheeler truck (AS 25 B 2605) on the Shillong by-pass and seized over 850 kg of high quality cannabis (ganjas) and arrested the driver.

According to officials, the cannabis was cunningly concealed inside a specially build chamber behind the driver’s cabin. Preliminary investigation revealed that the ganja, which was procured from Tripura, was destined to be drop in Guwahati.

In another successful operation, a Manipuri man was also arrested along with heroin weighing ½ kg from Khyndailad area, a commercial hub in the heart of the state‘s capital. The source of the heroin is said to be from Myanmar.

Though originally from Chandil district of Manipur, the suspected drug peddler has been residing in Nongthymmai area for the past 17 years.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner of Custom Preventive, North East Region (NER) Isaac Kharkongor said, “The cannabis seized is worth approximately Rs 42.50 lakh while the market value of the heroin is Rs 50 lakh.”

The duos, whose names have been kept confidential by the officials, have been booked under relevant sections of the NPDS Act.

When asked, Kharkongor said, “Investigation also suggests that the owner of the truck K Manhotra from Morigoan, Assam is also the owner of the seized cannabis. We are still investigating to nab the supplier from Tripura.”

While Manipur earlier used to be the main supply source of high quality ganja, the official however said of late there is a trend of ganja moving from Tripura into other parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Custom Preventive, North East Region (NER) informed that investigation into the heroin seizure case is going on to nab those involved in the illegal trade.

Stating that Shillong is becoming the main transit point of heroin, he said, “It is quite a serious trend as so far in this year we already have two big cases of heroin smuggling.”

According to him, the department is committed in its endeavour to cut the supply chain of heroin.-By Our Reporter