State scores high as transit point, drugs worth Rs 20 crore seized
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, November 27 2013:
In yet another major drug haul, Thoubal district police seized 12,68,800 tablets of contraband pseudoephedrine worth around Rs 20 crore in the international market from five persons including a Manipur Rifles Jamadar yesterday around 7.30 pm near Chaobok Lamkhai along NH-102 .
Addressing media persons today at his office, SP of Thoubal, Dr Akoijam Jhalajit Singh said that the district police party was coming from Imphal towards Thoubal yesterday around 7.30 pm when they noticed the occupants of two vehicles �a Maruti Gypsy (MN01 X-4234) and an Ikon car (MN070-0275), which were parked closely in a suspicious manner, exchanging some bags at a place near Chaobok Lamkhai
along NH-102 .
The police team under the command of Constable O Tomba Singh seized both the vehicles besides seizing 22560 strips of Brumet; 26320 strips of Polyfed-C and 78 packets (each containing 10,000 loose tablets) of suspected pseudoephedrine, the SP said.
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This is the third major drug haul made this year in the State and the second major drug haul by Thoubal Police.
On January 11, a team of the now disbanded Special Investigation Unit (SIU), formed under Imphal West district police seized pseudoephedrine Hydrocloride drugs worth about Rs 1.4 crore from Imphal (Tulihal) Airport.
About a month later, Thoubal district police commandos seized contraband drugs worth around Rs 25 crore from seven persons including a Colonel of the Indian Army from Pallel on February 24 .
The first two incidents had whipped up widespread public outrage across the State which prompted the Government to hand over the cases to the CBI.
Producing the arrested persons before the media, SP Dr Jhalajit identified them as Jamadar Hollal Haokip (41) JC No 605 of 8 MR, S/o Tongkholen Haokip of Chahsad Avenue, Imphal East, presently posted at UBI Moreh; Lunminthang Haokip alias Lulun (27) s/o (L) Paolet Haokip of Moreh Canaan Veng; Vahkim Haokip alias Kim (36) W/o (L) Thongkholet Haokip of Pallen Kotlenphai and presently at Checkon, Imphal; Chichin Haokip (46) W/o (L) Jamon Haokip of Kotlenphai Khunou, Pallen and Jangkhosei Bolsom alias Seiboy alias Hesei (22) S/o Lhunkholet Bolsom alias Lelet of Moreh Ward No 1, Khonomphai.
Putting the value of the seized drugs at Rs 20 crore in the International market, the district SP said the illegal drugs were seized in the presence of the witnesses under a formal seizure memo from the occupants of the vehicles.
The individuals were later arrested around 9.30 pm on the spot, he added.
During the preliminary interrogation, they disclosed that the drugs were handed over to them by one Md Nanao of Lilong Makha Leikai along NH-102 somewhere in Lilong area and the drugs were meant to be taken to Myanmar, the SP said.