Mizoram Police, in joint operations with the Assam Rifles, have seized heroin and ganja worth more than Rs 2.41 crore in three separate operations in Saitual district and arrested four people, officials said on Thursday.
The latest seizure was made on Thursday when a joint team of Saitual Police and Assam Rifles intercepted a truck and recovered 868 grams of heroin concealed in 73 soap cases. The contraband was estimated to be worth around Rs 1.74 crore.
Police arrested the truck driver, Monwar Singh Barbhuiya, and his helper, Abdul Kayum Munna, in connection with the seizure. Both are residents of Cachar district in Assam.
A case has been registered at Saitual police station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Further investigation is underway to establish the source and intended destination of the drugs and identify others who may be linked to the alleged trafficking operation.
In a separate operation at Keifang on August 10, authorities recovered 292 grams of heroin valued at around Rs 58.40 lakh. The drugs were allegedly seized from Vungngailun, a resident of Henglep in Manipur.
According to officials, Vungngailun was allegedly transporting the heroin in a vehicle from Manipur towards Aizawl. He was arrested and booked under the NDPS Act.
Earlier, on August 9, a joint operation by Ngopa Police and Assam Rifles at Tuisa Road in Kawlbem village led to the seizure of 18.52 kg of ganja. The seized cannabis was estimated to be worth Rs 9.26 lakh.
Police said the ganja was allegedly found in the possession of Samuel Lalruatpuia, a resident of Kawlbem in Saitual district. He was also arrested in connection with the case.
The three operations resulted in the recovery of significant quantities of narcotic substances from different locations in the district, with the combined value of the seizures exceeding Rs 2.41 crore.
Police said investigations into all three cases are continuing, including efforts to trace the alleged trafficking networks involved in transporting the drugs into and through Mizoram.
