In a major drugs bust that dwarfs those seen almost everyday in the state, 3.99kg of heroin was seized by officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on National Highway 44 at Mawryngkneng, East Khasi Hills, yesterday.
The drugs are worth an eye-watering Rs 27.94 crore, the Deputy Director of the DRI informed.
Although it is a huge sum of money, it is likely to be just a small drop in the ocean of the drug syndicates. The seizure also demonstrates just how important Meghalaya is as a transit route and market for the illicit trade in narcotics.
The heroin in this particular case, which was smuggled across the Indo-Myanmar border, landed one suspect in jail under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985.
The person was travelling in an SUV yesterday when the vehicle was intercepted by DRI officials. A thorough search led to the discovery of 307 soap cases filled with a pinkish powder that tested positive for heroin. The soap cases had been concealed in a secret compartment below one of the car seats.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that the consignment had come from Manipur via Mizoram,” the DRI Deputy Director said.
Follow-up searches and further investigation are underway.
In 2022-23, DRI Shillong seized over 6.25kg of heroin valued over Rs 43 crore. Since April 2022, the DRI has seized more than 1,358kg of heroin valued at approximately Rs 6,670 crore in the international illicit market, including 23.7kg valued at over Rs 166 crore in the North East alone.
