Three heroin smugglers arrested from city

 SHILLONG, AUG 16: Three drug smugglers were arrested with heroin worth Rs 2.90 lakhs from Shillong recently. The three confessed to the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Shillong that they were deserters of a Manipur-based-militant outfit.

After the ANTF was tipped off that some heroin suppliers were operating in the city, the task force immediately launched operation and arrested the three from Laitumkhrah. The arrested have been identified as Kaster Jasa (29), Inderjit Singh (40) of Lamsang Imphal West Manipur and Shymashon Sharma (36) of Hojai, Rajbari Nagaon, SP (city) Vivek Syiem informed.

Narrating the incident, Syiem said the ANTF team first nabbed Jasa, a suspected buyer from Laitumkhrah bus stand near police point after he was tailed by the ANTF in Laitumkhrah bazaar. A small amount of heroin was seized from Jasa.

Syiem informed after the revelation of Jasa, the supply of drugs by Inderjit Singh (40) of Lamsang Imphal West Manipur was confirmed and the ANTF at about 7.30 pm conducted a raid and seizure operation at Lumawrie in his rented house.

Syiem said when the ANTF team entered the house, one Shymashon Sharma (36) of Hojai, Rajbari Nagaon was caught red handed while consuming (chasing) heroin with a snorting pipe in the adjacent room. He added, “However a substantial amount of heroin was found from the house which was packed in several containers and 29 gms the value of which is Rs 2.90 lakhs.”

Syiem also said several empty containers including plastic bottles were found having traces of heroin and seizure indicate that these were the containers used to traffic the drugs. Among other things seized were chasing pipes for snorting heroin, 15 lighters used for chasing, a bundle of transparent plastic sachets for packing the heroin and 7 mobile phones.

Further search were conducted and   a well wrapped packet  was found from the almirah in one of the rooms  which contained  three pads of the demand note  letter heads of the National Revolutionary Front of Manipur(NRFM) a militant outfit active in Manipur, which is issued by the Secretary Finance NRFM purportedly used in Manipur.

“This indicates their links with militant groups,” Syiem said adding “They have admitted to be deserters of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a militant outfit of Manipur.” He said it is also ascertained after preliminary interrogation that the heroin seized is brought from Manipur which has been smuggled from Myanmar.

A case vide Laitumkhrah P.S C/No149(08)15 u/s 21(b) NDPS Act has been registered and  the three persons have been arrested and sent to Judicial custody by the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class. They will again be reproduced before the Special Judge (NDPS) on 17.08.15 for acquiring police remand, Syiem informed.

According to Syiem, the arrest of the three big suppliers has given a fillip to the ANTF in its fight to root out all those involved in the drug trade. In light of the increase in drug trafficking and substance abuse amongst the youth in the city, the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Shillong, is fighting to stem the supply of drugs especially heroin, he added.- By Our Reporter