Man nabbed with 34kg opium
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 02 2022: A team of NAB arrested a man and recovered 34 kg of opium from a Toyota Fortuner vehicle having flag post driven by the man from Khurai Ningthoubung under Porompat police station at about 4.30am Wednesday.

The nabbed man has been identified as Salam Khogen (36) son of Boby of Khurai Ningthoubung under Porompat police station.

A total of 34 packets containing one kilogram of opium each was recovered from Khogen's vehicle, which indeed was found to be registered in the name of one Langpoklakpam Jayantakumar, son of Bhagyachandra Singh of Pishumthong Oinam Leikai.

According to a statement of PRO Manipur police, NAB has been conducting frisking at different places as part of its drive to check drug smuggling and stop abuse of drugs during the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.

As part of the ongoing drive, one team of NAB conducted frisking at Lamlai area and spotted one Toyota Fortiiner having flag post moving suspiciously towards Imphal from Ukhrul without security escort.

The team signalled the vehicle to stop for frisking but pressed the accelerator.

The team chased the vehicle and managed to stop the same at Khurai Ningthoubung, the statement said, adding that Khogen confessed to be an inter-state drug trafficker and indulged in drug trafficking since the past many years.

The PRO statement further said that Khogen brought the contraband item from Molnom and Songphel hill range and the same was to be handed over to another agent in Imphal.

Further investigations are on to arrest other involved individuals.

On the other hand, incumbent Keishamthong MLA and NPP candidate L Jayantakumar has said that the Tata Fortuner driven by Khogen was indeed registered in his name and used occasionally but he sold it off sometime back due to financial problem ahead of the election.

The buyer of the vehicle did not change the owner's name, Jayantakumar said and clarified that he has no connection whatsoever with the seized opium.

Comment