SHILLONG: The Customs have seized ganja worth over Rs 31.83 lakh at Umpling tollgate, Ri Bhoi district.
The Customs Headquarters Preventive Unit, Shillong said that acting on specific information, the Customs sleuths on Sunday intercepted one Tata Sumo vehicle bearing Meghalaya Registration number at Umling toll gate after a hot chase and seized 318.300 Kg of Ganja (Cannabis) packed in 20 packages worth Rs 31.83 lakh which were being transported in the vehicle.
The contraband originated from Tyrsad area of East Khasi Hills and was meant for delivery at Byrnihat for onward transportation to Guwahati.
According to the Customs, Contraband narcotics drug and the vehicle were seized under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985 and the driver of the vehicle hailing from Ri Bhoi district has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. Intelligence inputs suggest increased movement of Meghalaya origin Cannabis to main land India in recent times due to crack down on illicit cultivation of cannabis in Tripura which was the main source of cannabis during the past couple of years. Further investigation of the case is in progress to nab other persons involved in the illicit narcotics trade.