Police in Ri-Bhoi arrested a man yesterday evening on suspicion of transporting drugs into the state from Nagaland.
The man was identified as Alpanush Marak, a resident of Dangar, in Mawsynram block, East Khasi Hills.
Acting on a specific tip-off, anti-narcotics police set up a checkpoint and intercepted a tourist vehicle (ML 05 Q 0253) at around 5pm.
A thorough search of the vehicle, witnessed by independent observers, led to the discovery of eight soap boxes containing heroin that was worth Rs 45 lakh. Six mobile phones were also seized from Marak, who had travelled from Nagaland via Assam with the intention of proceeding to Shillong.
Legal action has been initiated against the accused in accordance, police informed.