By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In one of the biggest hauls in the State, Customs sleuths seized 50.770 kg of Methaqualone crystals from an Aizawl-bound Sumo at Mawlai.
Customs officials said on Monday that the seized items were worth Rs 1 crore in the international market.
Customs sleuths also recovered Actichid and Reobro tablets from the Sumo valued at Rs 9.48 lakh and Rs 7 lakh respectively.
Commissioner of Customs (Prevention), SK Chakraborty, informed on Monday that the illegal items were seized from a Sumo (MZ 01G 8253) when it was heading to Aizawl from Guwahati, from where it was meant to be smuggled to Myanmar.
Methaqualone crystals are raw materials for manufacturing Mandrax Acticid while Reobro tablets contain Pseudoephedrine which is a raw material for manufacturing Amphetamine tablets.
According to Chakraborty, the Custom officials have arrested the driver of the Sumo and his helper while the main accused managed to escape.
“We are on the lookout for two more suspects,” he said, adding that the Mizoram Police have already been alerted.
The Customs official also informed that the narcotics were produced mainly in South Indian states.
The duo has been placed under 14-day judicial custody and has been charged under the Customs Act, 1962 and under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985.
“Further investigation is on and more arrests are likely to be made soon,” the Customs officials said.