Existence of alternative Indo-Myanmar border routes in Manipur is advantageous to drug smugglers, says NAB
Imphal: Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB), Manipur has nabbed two drug traffickers from different places of the state.
One of the drug dealers was apprehended from Gwaltabi foothill area of Imphal-Ukhrul road on Wednesday while the other was apprehended from Mantripukhri on Thursday.
The first one was identified as Vareihao Tinphei, 62, son of late Zurrei Tinphei, resident of Shangshak Phunghon village, Ukhrul district.
The second one was identified as Anil Kumar Gupta, 49, son of Rain Gopal Gupta, resident of 49, Rohiti Tola, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.
Tinphei was nabbed when two teams of NAB went towards the foothills along Imphal – Ukhrul Road for surveillance of suspected poppy and ganja cultivation on Wednesday afternoon.
In the surveillance one Alto Car bearing registration number WB-02Q-7488 was seen coming towards Imphal at Gwaltabi foothill area. Due to suspicious nature, the vehicle was stopped and checked, superintendent of police/NAB public relation officer, Manipur Police department, Imphal told reporters here on Thursday.
Tinphei was found carrying a black polyethene bag containing 10 packets of suspected articles. He stated that those were some edible items. Due to suspicious nature, the small packets were checked and they were suspected to be brown sugar. Accordingly, testing kit and weighing machine were called and when tested the articles were found to be Brown Sugar, weighing approximately 5 kg. He was arrested and the Brown Sugar was seized along with the Alto Car and other incriminating items including his mobile phone on spot verification, the senior officer said.
Tinphei revealed that the suspected contraband brown sugar was delivered to him by three persons in the Manipur-Nagaland border. He took it to Ukhrul district and tried to sell it at Imphal at an opportune time, he added.
It is confirmed that an interstate gang is involved in the drug smuggling. Further investigation is carried on to establish the chain of drug trafficking and to arrest other associates. A case has been registered at NAB-PS, Manipur, the officer said.
Meghachandra said the value of the drug seized from Tinphei would worth Rs 50 lakh in the local market. However, it would value upto Rs 5 crore in the international market once it is refined.
Anil was apprehended with about 1 kg of Brown Sugar from his possession, which was concealed in a white flower pot.
He revealed that he has been indulging in this drug business since the past. He is a part of Inter-state drug trafficking gang whose top leader is presently in Uttar Pradesh. A case has been registered at NAB-PS, Manipur for further investigation, Meghachandra said.
Manipur is a state close to Golden Traingle, having porous border with numbers of alternative routes in Manipur connecting Myanmar. Hence, smugglers have the advantage to avoid the routes that have security posts, he added.
Meghachandra appealed to the people to inform police if any suspect of existence of drug dealers are present in their areas.
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