Poppy farmer held 2.5 kg heroin, 9 kg opium seized
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 18 2023:
Senapati district police arrested a 30-year-old man on the charge of illegal poppy plantation on Friday.
The arrested poppy farmer has been identified as Santosh Kami, son of Rajen Kami of Santolabari village in Kangpokpi district, but presently staying in Ngatan village, Senapati district.
He was arrested from the poppy farm during an operation conducted jointly by district administration, district police and officials of forest & revenue department in Ngatan village area on Friday.
A case has been registered against him.
The joint team destroyed poppy plants found growing in an area of around 1 acre and also destroyed huts used by the poppy cultivators.
They also confiscated three sacks of poppy seeds from one of the huts.
From there, the team went to Khomsong village area and conducted drone survey, during which vast area of poppy farms were detected.
However, they returned without destroying the poppy plants owing to inclement weather condition.
In Bishnupur district, a combined team of police commando and 16 Assam Rifles on Saturday arrested three people with 5.127 kg of brown sugar found hidden inside a maroon coloured Maruti Alto (WB66J-0924) they were travelling in at Langpok village playground along Phadibi road.
The three accused have been identified as Md Khutleibam Amirkhan (39), son of (late) Md Hellaluddin of Lilong Tai-ren Makhong; Md Sengamayum Nasiruddin (26), son of Md Man-iruddin of Lilong Chingkham Makha and Md Khulakpam Ten-den (20), son of Md Sallaoddin of Lilong Ushoipokpi.
According to police report, a combined team of 16 AR and Bishnupur commando unit led by its OC subedar Y Shaktishen Singh was conducting a frisking and checking operation at Langpok village playground along Phadibi road when it intercepted the Maruti Alto heading towards Nambol Chingmang from Kakyai Langpok crossing side, carrying the accused around 11:45 am on Saturday.
On search of the vehicle, the team recovered one black bag containing five packets of plastic polythene filled with powdery substances concealed just behind the driver's seat of the vehicle.
On initial interrogation, the accused disclosed that they are drug peddlers and the said items are brown sugar which they had brought from one James of Yain-gangpokpi for selling to prospective buyers in and around Nambol area.
Subsequently, the items weighing about 5.127 kg were seized at the spot in the presence of an executive magistrate, while the three accused were arrested and handed over to Nambol police station for further legal action.
Meanwhile, Sajik Tampak Batallion of IGAR (South) recovered 2.5 kg heroin and 4 kg opium worth Rs 5,02,80,000 in international market from two individuals in Tuingan Dung Nala (near Lebonan village) area in Chandel district on March 15 .
In a release, PRO IGAR (S) informed that based on specific input regarding movement of contraband items, an area domination party was launched in general area Tuingan Dung Nala (near Lebonan village) .
During search and frisking operation by the area domination party, two individuals were found in possession of 2.5 kg of heroin and 4 kg of opium.
The recovered items along with the smugglers have been handed over to Chakpikarong police station for further investigation.