A correspondent
Silchar: Continuing the crackdown on the smuggling and trafficking of contraband narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) carried out a focused operation in December in the Northeastern region. A reliable source in the DRI said that in six cases of smuggling and trafficking, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, cannabis (ganja), and hydroponic weed, cumulatively valued at Rs 56.525 crore, were recovered, and 14 persons were arrested and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and seven vehicles were also seized.
In one case, a truck was intercepted at Khanapara in the outskirts of Guwahati, and 1,070 kilograms of ganja were recovered and seized from the truck, which was carrying rubber sheets as cover cargo. In another case, a truck was intercepted again at Khanapara, and over 3.2 kilograms of heroin were recovered and seized. In another case, an Indian national coming from Bangkok, Thailand, was apprehended at Guwahati International Airport on December 19, and about 3723 grams of Hydroponic Weed, having a value of Rs. 3.72 crore in the international illicit drug market, were recovered and seized from the passenger.
From this year’s January till December, DRI has lodged 45 cases of smuggling and trafficking of contraband drugs in the North Eastern Region, the source added. The contraband drugs seized include 204 kilograms of methamphetamine tablets, 17 kilograms of heroin, 2,369 kilograms of ganja, 6 kilograms of morphine, and 3.72 kilograms of hydroponic weed. These contrabands are worth Rs. 366 crore in the international grey drug market, the DRI source claimed. 33 vehicles used for concealing and transporting the contraband drugs were also seized. 77 persons involved in smuggling, trafficking, and transporting the contraband drugs were also arrested and put behind bars.
In one of these cases, four people travelling on the Kanchanjunga Express Train were intercepted at Guwahati railway station, and over 4 kilograms of morphine were recovered and seized. In one major seizure of methamphetamine tablets, a truck was intercepted at Sonabarighat, Cachar, and 30 kilograms of methamphetamine tablets were seized. In another major heroin seizure, a Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Xenon were intercepted in the outskirts of Aizawl, and over 3.7 kilograms of heroin were seized. Investigations revealed that these contraband drugs were smuggled into Manipur and Mizoram from Myanmar, and ganja is sourced from Tripura, the source said.
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