Drugs worth over Rs 500 crore seized at Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur 

IMPHAL:

Manipur Police and Assam Rifles in a joint operation seized drugs from a Myanmar national, that would worth around Rs 508 crore in the international market, from Indo-Myanmar border town Moreh in Manipur on December 7.

The security forces and Tengnoupal District Police have been dominating the Indo-Myanmar border extensively to thwart the nefarious designs of ant-national elements and as a part of Manipur government's war against drug.

Superintendent of Police, Tengnoupal district Th.Vikramjit Singh told reporters that the district  police has been working in close co-ordination with 43 Assam Rifles, to make Moreh, a town free from narcotic substance. 

With months of domination and planning, teams from both 43 Assam Rifles and Tengnoupal District Police under the strict supervision of Colonel Sumit Sood Commandant 43 Assam Rifles Moreh Battalion and Vikramjit were deployed for collection of more specific information. 

Specific intelligence input were collected which revealed that some places in Moreh town near the international border are being used as stocking, repackaging and redistribution facility for narcotics substances smuggled in large quantities from Myanmar. More information were collected and some houses were identified. Based on further specific information collected by both 43 Assam Rifles and Tengnoupal District Police, one specific house was identified, which as per the source report was used as stocking, repackaging and redistribution facility for narcotics substances smuggled in large quantities from Myanmar, the senior police officer said.

The teams deployed were keeping a close watch on the house and waiting for the right opportune moment. On December 5 specific inputs revealed for possible storage of large quantity of Narcotic substances. In close coordination, teams were deployed at Moreh, he added.

At around 2 pm the combined team spotted one person coming out of the suspected house near the Sunrise ground, riding a two wheeler and carrying a red bag. The individual was stopped and upon inspecting the contents of his bag, found approximately 20 large boxes inside the red coloured bag each having 11 soap cases of suspected narcotics (Heroin powder).

The detained person identified himself as Monkhai, 19, son of late Thang En Mang of Khampat (Myanmar). He was arrested et 2:30 pm from the spot and 220 soap cases of heroin powder and one Kenbo bike were seized from his possession. 

The seizure corroborated input beyond doubt about the storage of huge quantity of narcotic substances at the target location. So, the combined team further searched the targeted house. During the house search, 3716 of soap case containing suspected Heroin Powder and 152 packets of suspected Crystal Meth (Methamphetamine) drugs were recovered which was concealed inside the front room of the said house. The team also recovered plastic packaging materials, the police superintendent said. 

The total amount of nacrotic substances seized in the operation were 3936 soap cases of suspected to be Heroin powder weighing 54.141 Kg (approximately), 152 packets suspected to be of Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) weighing - 154.314 Kg (approximately). The cost of suspected seized Heroin powder is expected to be around Rs 108 crore in the international market and that of suspected seized Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) is expected to be around Rs 400 crore in the international market, he added.

The arrested person and the seized articles had been handed over to OC Moreh Police station and a case has been taken up for investigation, he said.

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