By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati :The Jiribam District Police (JDP) of Manipur have arrested two drug smugglers with 50,000 WY (World is Yours) tablets worth around Rs 85 lakh. A cash amount of Rs 23,000 was also recovered from their possession. During a press briefing held today, SP of JDP, M. Mubi Singh stated that based on specific inputs of smuggling and transportation of prohibited items being carried out along NH-37, all outposts of JDP were alerted and instructed on July 8 to intensify frisking and checking operations. Besides that, mobile teams consisting of commandos and Anti-drug cell including women police personnel were instructed to carry out mobile patrols and checking of vehicles plying along NH-37, he said. During the continuous checking operations, a white coloured Bolero bearing registration number MN 04A-1751 coming from Manipur capital Imphal was stopped for checking near the 6 km milestone located at Leingangpokpi village. On seeing the suspicious nature of the vehicle’s occupants, the police teams consisting of women police commandos conducted checking of the vehicle and the belongings. The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Lamneichong Haokip, 34, and Thangjam Naoba Meitei, 29.

The SP further stated that upon checking of the Mahindra Bolero vehicle, five white plastic gunny bags containing loose packets of groundnuts were found, and after the gunny bags were opened, packets wrapped with yellow-coloured adhesive were found concealed inside the ‘badam’ packs. On further checking of the yellow packets, 10 blue-coloured packets containing 200 numbers of WY tablets were found which amounted to a total of 50,000 WY tablets valued at around Rs 35 lakhs. Further, cash amount of Rs 23,000 was also recovered from their possession, he added. On further questioning, the arrested persons have disclosed that the consignment was imported to India through Moreh town in Manipur and it was to be transported towards Assam. M. Mubi said while also adding that a case under FIR No. 27, (07) 2019 u/s 22(c)/29(1)/60(3) NDPS Act has been registered at Jiribam Police Station for further investigations.During the continuous checking operations, a white coloured Bolero bearing registration number MN 04A-1751 coming from Imphal was stopped for checking near the 6 km milestone located at Leingangpokpi village, he said while adding that on seeing the suspicious gesture of the vehicle’s occupants, the police teams consisting of women police commandos conducted checking of the vehicle and the belongings.

On verifications, the occupants of the vehicle were identified as: (i) Lamneichong Haokip, 34, wife of Thangkhaopao Haokip of Chikim village, Tengnoupal district and at present residing at Moreh Heinoumakhong Leikai, Ward no. VII; and (ii) Thangjam Naoba Meitei, 29, son of (late) Th. Tomba Meitei of Moreh Heinoumakhong Leikai, Ward no. VII, he said. The SP further stated that upon checking of the Mahindra Bolero vehicle, five numbers of white plastic gunny bags containing loose packets of groundnuts (Badam) were found, and after the gunny bags were opened, packets wrapped with yellow-coloured adhesives were found concealed inside the Badam packs. On further checking of the yellow packets, 10 blue-coloured packets containing 200 numbers of WY tablets were found which amounted to a total of 50,000 WY tablets valued at around Rs 35 lakhs were found. Further, cash amount of Rs 23,000 was also recovered from their possession, he added. On further questioning, the arrested persons have disclosed that the consignment was imported to India through Moreh town and it was to be transported towards Assam, M. Mubi said while also adding that a case under FIR No. 27, (07) 2019 u/s 22(c)/29(1)/60(3) NDPS Act has been registered at Jiribam PS for further investigations.