Security forces in Manipur launched a coordinated operation on Sunday and seized 6.2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as the ICE drug, worth over Rs 85 crore, officials reported. According to officials, they swooped down on the drug trafficker during the operation.
The accused, identified as Md Yusub, alias Kaki and Jakir (41), is a native of the Imphal East district. He was arrested on Saturday noon during a joint operation carried out by the 164 Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF), Koirengei, and the Imphal West district commando unit.
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Operation launched after receiving intelligence inputs
As per police, the security agency sleuths received specific intelligence indicating that a huge contraband of narcotics was being transported through the Imphal West area. They plunged into action following the tip-off and intercepted the suspect in the Khaman Lampak locality at around 4 pm. When they searched his possessions, they recovered six packets containing crystal methamphetamine, weighing close to 6.2 kgs.
Post seizure, the security personnel handed over the accused, as well as the seized drug to the local police after completing all legal formalities. A senior security officer termed the seizure one of the most significant drug recoveries in the region in recent times.
He said, “Such a seizure constitutes a huge consignment, and its value in the international market could exceed Rs 85 crore. However, the price of the drug varies depending on location and demand. We will continue to execute such operations in the future to dismantle drug trafficking networks and eliminate the narcotics menace to the maximum extent possible.”
The accused was booked under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and a probe is underway to trace the source of the consignment and other members of the alleged trafficking network.
Brown sugar seized in separate operation
In a separate anti-narcotics operation conducted on Saturday, security forces seized as much as 1 kg of brown sugar concealed inside 81 soap cases from a Bolero vehicle at Thingkangphai village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district.
The man driving the vehicle, identified as Mangkhanthang Kipgen (22), a resident of Hengjol village under Sangaikot in Churachandpur district, was arrested on charges of drug trafficking. According to police, he was wanted in multiple cases registered under the NDPS Act and is also believed to be linked to numerous probes conducted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI).