Four persons were arrested and 2.5 kg suspected heroin powder and brown sugar seized from their possessions in two separate incidents on Friday and Saturday, while one is at large, sources said.
According to the police, a team of Bishnupur district commando arrested two persons and seized around 1.150 kg of heroin powder worth over Rs 3 crore in local market from their possession in a passenger bus at Leimaram Lamkhai along NH-150 (Tiddim Road) on Saturday.
The arrested persons were been identified as one Siekminlal Suktung, son of Dalgou Suktung from Khousabung, Churachandpur district and Kapsuanlian, son of (L) Nengkhanthang P from Kamdou Veng Churachandpur district, the police said.
The arrest and seizure took place when the district commando team led by additional superintendent of police (Ops), Bishnupur, Roni Mayengbam and officer-in-charge, Bishnupur Commando unit, Y Shaktisen along with a team fo Nambol police station under the supervision of superintendent of police, Bishnupur, N Herojit Singh intercepted a passenger bus bearing registration number MN01 1938 at Leimaram Lamkhai along Tiddim Road, police added.
The police further said that on checking the bus cabin area, 87 soap cases containing suspected heroin powder were detected. On questioning, the driver (Siekminlal) and assistant driver (Kapsuanlian) disclosed their identities and said the soap cases contained heroin powder and were taken from Churachandpur to be transported to Shillong for selling to prospective buyers, they said.
The police said that the heroin powder seized weighed around 1.150 kg without the weight of soap cases. The seized drugs were sealed by observing necessary formalities in the presence of an independent witness as well as executive magistrate at around 1.15 pm the same day.
The driver and the assistant driver were arrested on the spot, the police said, adding that the arrested persons along with the seizures were handed over to Nambol police station for further action.
Meanwhile, in Churachandpur, the district police arrested two drug smugglers and seized 1.233 kg of suspected brown sugar from their possession Friday, while one remained at large.
The arrested persons have been identified as one Limkholet Lhungdim, 42, son of (L) Khatkhongam and Nengtinhoi, 35, wife of Paongam Simte, both from D Lhangjol village in Churachandpur district.
The police said the arrest was made following a tip-off received on Friday, 4:30 pm about the smuggling of contraband drugs within Gilgal veng.
The police team rushed to the area and proceeded to the house of one Chochong, wife of Y Yaima of Gilgal veng, where the drugs were said to be kept. On seeing the police party approaching, two female and a male fled from the house, the police said.
On reaching the house, a search was conducted in the presence of the executive magistrate and local witnesses and a huge consignment suspected to be brown sugar packed in 100 soap cases were found inside the bedroom of the house, the police added.
Some of the team members pursued one male and female who were seen fleeing in a red colour Maruti Gypsy without registration number plate. The team intercepted them at Gouchinkhup Veng, Churachandpur, the police added.
After they identified themselves as Limkholet Lhungdim and Nengtinhoi, they disclosed that they had brought the 100 soap cases of suspected brown sugar from one Ngamlet Lhungdim of Phoilen village and kept it in the house of Chochong for selling to prospective buyers.
The two were brought to the house of Chochong and the suspected brown sugar was found to weigh 1.23 kg, excluding the weight of the soap cases.
The drugs along with red colour Maruti Gypsy and a mobile phone were seized and the two persons arrested at the spot at 6.20 pm. A case has been registered under NDPS Act at Churachandpur police station for further investigation.
