One held with heroin worth Rs 18 crore
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 24 2023: Police on Monday arrested one Apu Gangmei alias Gaijanlung Gangmei alias Asakho (28) son of Thomas Gangmei of Lilong Chaobok, Thoubal district along with 3.125 kg of heroin carried in a truck along NH102 at Lilong Chajing near Lilong Bridge.

Police source said that the truck was intercepted by Imphal West CDO and Singjamei PS led by CDO inspector P Shimray and Singjamei PS OC inspector Ak Sanathoi under the direct command of ASP (Ops) M Amit.

The police team detained a red coloured truck (AS28AC 0729) near the Lilong bridge at 11:20 am along with its driver later identified as Apu Gangmei.

Upon searching, police found 50 plastic soap cases containing suspected heroin weighing 625 gm approximately including the weight of the soap cases from the dash board above the front seat.

One mobile handset along with two SIM cards, one wallet containing Rs 10,500 and one driving license were seized from his possession at the spot.

The vehicle along with the arrested person and the seized articles were then taken to Singjamei PS for further checking.

In presence of the executive magistrate, further search of the vehicle was conducted leading to recovery of 200 plastic soap cases suspected to be containing Heroin weighing 2.5 kg approximately including weight of the soap cases which were kept concealed at a secret chamber just above the chassis at 4 pm .

The arrested individual along with the seized articles have been handed over to Singjamei PS for necessary actions.

Though police did not mention approximate price of the seized heroin, based on recent seizure, the seized heroin would worth around Rs 18 crore in the international market.

Earlier, after learning that police had seized a Tata truck with drugs near Lilong Chajing Thong, a large crowd thronged the location around 11 am Monday and demanded that the drugs be destroyed on the spot.

While the police tried to control the crowd, Addl SP Amit put the drugs in his vehicle and tried to leave the location to which the crowd blocked the ASP's vehicle but he (Amit) managed to take away the drugs from the location amid strict security measures.

The police then tried to drive away the truck from the area but the crowd again tried to stop the same.

As police started driving away the truck under strict security, the crowd started pelting stones at the truck.

In order to control the crowd, police fired tear gas shells and mock bombs and managed to drive away the truck.

The enraged crowd then turned on the police and started pelting stones.

However, the police personnel continued to fire several tear gas shells at the crowd and were able to leave the area unscathed.

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