SHILLONG: In a major haul, the Anti Narcotic Task Force of East Khasi Hills police seized 529 grams of heroin worth over Rs one crore from a woman here and arrested her.
Informing this, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Claudia Lyngwa said that the seizure was made from a 49-year-old lady in Madanrting, who is a supplier and hails from Manipur, after a raid on her rented premises on Tuesday. The contraband was packed in 39 soap cases. A local court remanded her to 14 days’ judicial custody.
The SP said the newly-revamped ANTF was focusing on the supply line which, if controlled, could help contain the drug menace in the state.
Stressing on the need for society to cooperate with the police to make sure that the culprits are booked as per law, Lyngwa said that the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act states that every seizure must have witnesses.
Requesting assistance of the Rangbah Shnong, she said without independent witnesses their hands are tied.
On the other hand, SDPO Sadar, Jagpal Singh, said that the menace was no more restricted to only a few localities like Madanrting, Mawlai, Jhalupara, Polo, but has spread its tentacles far and wide.
The police now have also decided to take action against landlords whose property is used for criminal activities under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. He added that the police will now register cases against house owners as per section 25 of the NDPS Act if their premises are used for criminal activities and they will be treated as abettors.
As per records available with the police there are around 11,000 drug injectors.