Drugs worth over Rs 19 cr seized in Ri Bhoi, 2 held

SHILLONG: Two persons were arrested and contraband worth over Rs 19 crore, the largest haul so far in the state, was seized in Ri Bhoi on Wednesday.
Deputy Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) Isaac Kharkongor said on Thursday 19.7 kg of Methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba, were seized.
The customs had intelligence input about an international drug kingpin, Letminlun Khongsai, coming to Guwahati from Imphal by flight. His hideout was located at Killing in Ri Bhoi.
Kharkongor said there was information that a huge consignment of the tablets was dispatched from Imphal in an SUV and it would be delivered at the hideout at Killing.
On Wednesday evening, the vehicle was intercepted and Khongsai and his driver Sailesh Singh were picked up.
The tablets were hidden in a deflated tyre and inside the vehicle. The consignment was likely to be delivered to Bangladesh through the Indo-Bangla border.
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Kharkongor said Meghalaya has become a safe haven for international drug syndicates who are using it as a transit route from Myanmar to Bangladesh.
He informed that the interrogation of the arrested persons has revealed some new leads about other persons and investigation is on to nab them.
Kharkongor maintained that Rs 15-16 crore of psychotropic drugs are being seized by the customs annually in the North East.
He also pointed out that the Indo-Myanmar border is porous and provides an easy access for those involved in the drug trade.