War on Drugs 2.0 Opium worth Rs 10 Cr seized
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2022: A team of Imphal West police arrested a non local man along with 136.03 kilogram of opium expected to cost around Rs 10 crore in the international market from Minuthong near MMTA office last evening at around 6.30 .

The person arrested along with the opium has been identified as Saddhik Mohammad (44), s/o Safi Mohammad of Indra Nagar Jodhpur Rajasthan.

He has been sent to 10 days police custody by the Imphal West Duty Magistrate.

Briefing media persons at his conference hall today, Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta stated that a team of Imphal West police led by Inspector P Achouba rushed to Minuthong area and intercepted one Tata truck carrying plywoods on receiving specific inputs about illegal transportation of banned drugs items in the area.

War on Drugs 2.0 Opium worth Rs 10 Cr seized

As per the SP, the truck came from the North AOC side towards Minuthong near MMTA office at around 6.30 pm .

Saying that the truck was thoroughly checked in the presence of Executive Magistrate, the SP added that opium was found concealed in a modified box type compartment on the bottom of the vehicle.

Altogether 131 packets containing opium (kani) were concealed inside the modified box of the Tata Truck while several other packets of opium were found hidden in the front dashboard of the truck, he added.

Saying that seized opium would be worth around Rs 10 crore in the international market, Ksh Shivakanta said that the police also seized two mobile phones, one debit card and Rs 1040 from the arrested driver.

As per the truck driver , the packets of opium were given to him by some unknown persons sent by his partner Om Prakash from Jodhpur Rajasthan for transportation to Rajasthan.

Imphal police have registered a case .

The arrested person and the seized opium packets were produced before the media persons after the briefing.

In another instance, a combined team of Bishnupur commando and Moirang police arrested another non local man along with 218 sacks containing poppy straw which are to be used in manufacturing drugs during an intensified frisking and checking drive at Ngangkhalawai near Electricity office this morning.

Reportedly, the non local was coming in a 12 wheeler truck from Churachandpur towards Imphal side.

On checking, the combined team seized 3250 kilogram of poppy straw from the truck.

On preliminary verification, the driver has been identified as Banshi Lal (19) s/o Bhaipa Ram of Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

As per the truck driver, the poppy straws are to be transported to Rajasthan via Guwahati.

Sacks containing poppy straw were seized in the presence of civil witnesses by observing formalities at 8.40 am.

The arrested driver has been handed over to Moirang Police Station along with the seized items and the truck.

Moirang AC MLA Th Shanti handed out cash incentives to the police team.