Drug traffickers arrested, inter-state cartel link exposed

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, June 16: West Jaintia Hills police arrested seven drug traffickers late last night. Following intelligence inputs that a group of drug traffickers were travelling from Guwahati towards Silchar, the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) intercepted the vehicle at its check point on the NH44 at Ialong near Pine Breeze Hotel. The police team was led by Macjoel Marngar MPS DSP (HQ) West Jaintia Hills and SI Arki Wahlang I/C ANTF West Jaintia Hills.

At about 10:20 pm two Scorpios (MN 01 – AK 6984 of white colour and MN 01 – X 8542 of black colour) reached the check point, where they were detained and searched. During the search operation, police recovered 67 identical tightly plastic wrapped colored packets. Each contained 10 blue heat- sealed packets with each blue heat-sealed packet contained 100 pink color tablets suspected to be psychotropic drugs marked with the letter ‘WY’ on the body of the tablet.

Besides the two Scorpios, the police also seized the 67,000 tablets, 11 mobile phones, six SIM cards and cash amounting to Rs. 2,96,065. The search was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses including Executive Magistrate West Jaintia Hills, B Blah.

Police also detained the suspected drug traffickers, namely M Sianzathang Zou (35 years), Chinsunlam Zou (27 years), Zou, Mangminthang Zou (29 years), Niangnu Zou (39 years), Pawhawi Zou (31 years), Thangboi Zou (27 years), Ngehnu Zou (18 years) and a female juvenile of 16 yrs. From preliminary questioning, it was ascertained that the suspected narcotic substances had been smuggled from Myanmar via Moreh to be sold to vendors in other States. The psychotropic drug is suspected to be Meta Amphetamine estimated at Rs 1 Crore 34 lakhs in the open market.

According to the SP of the district, Vivek Syiem, there is an elaborate nexus for the supply of narcotics from Myanmar into the North East for which several youths from the region are affected. It has also been found that several drug users from the district procure drugs from Cachar for which this consignment was headed. A case has been registered to ascertain the other players in this supply chain of narcotics.