Continuing with their campaign against illegal drugs in Meghalaya, East Jaiñtia Hills police today arrested two men for possessing 72 grammes of heroin.
The pair were travelling in a West Bengal-registered Maruti Zen (WB 02 P 2867) and had strapped six cases containing the drugs to their bodies.
Seventeen strips of Nitrazepam, a type of benzodiazepine, which is a powerful hypnotic drug, were also seized from their possession.
The 15-hour joint operation was carried out by the anti-narcotics branch and Umtyra anti-infiltration police led by Additional Superintendent of Police Banraplang Jyrwa with Deputy SP Jason Myrom.
“Due to a heavy traffic jam at Malidor (on the Assam side) the police team had to continue the operation for almost 15 hours,” East Jaiñtia Hills SP Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said.
Acting on intelligence, police intercepted the vehicle at Umtyra checkpoint and the two present in the vehicle were searched, leading to uncovering of the drugs hidden under their clothes.
The car they were travelling in and two mobile phones were also seized by the authorities. A case has been registered at Khliehriat police station. Police are now trying to uncover others involved in this particular drug network.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui lauded the police for their success against the drug dealers and smugglers. He also said that combating the menace takes cooperation from the public, civil society groups and neighbouring states and government agencies.
“Thankful to the police department and agencies for helping us to arrest those involved and we are hopeful that, in the near future, we will be able to reach the kingpin or source from where all this is happening,” Rymbui said.
