New Delhi, June 9 (UNI) In a major crackdown on drug trafficking networks in the North Eastern Region, a joint team of DRI, Customs, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police seized drugs and cash worth approximately Rs 55.52 cr in Churachandpur District of Manipur, an official statement said here on Monday.
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The operation, codenamed “Operation White Veil', lasted for three days between June 5 and 7, and led to the arrest of five persons,
The officials of joint team seized 7,755.75 grams of heroin worth Rs 54.29 cr and 6,736 grams of opium worth Rs 87.57 lakh in the international grey drug market, along with cash of Rs 35.63 lakh.
Two Baofeng walkie-talkies and one Maruti Eeco Van have been seized and five persons arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
In the early hours of June 6, two suspects were discreetly pursued from Behiang Village near the Myanmar border. The pursuit led the authorities to a house in Thadou Veng in Singngat Sub-Division, where they recovered 219 soap cases containing heroin, eight packages and 18 small tin cans containing opium along with two Baofeng walkie-talkies and Rs 7,58,050 in cash.
While one person was apprehended from the house, two others, who escaped, were intercepted at Bualkot Check Gate.
Further investigation led to another search in Behiang Village, where two packages of opium and Rs 28,05,000 lakh in cash was recovered from the residence of one of the accused.
Acting on further inputs received during the operation, two persons carrying improvised manpacks were intercepted at Zoukhonuam Village near BP 46 on June 7. Search of the manpacks resulted in the recovery of 440 soap cases containing heroin.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the seized contraband drugs were smuggled into the bordering areas of Churachandpur District from Myanmar through the porous forested Indo-Myanmar border.
Despite these challenges and difficulties, a well-coordinated action by the law enforcement agencies led to the successful operation. UNI RBE SSP