NONGPOH: The Ri Bhoi Police seized ganja weighing 500 kg at 20th Mile, Pahammawlein, during the wee hours of Friday, from a truck which was en route to Guwahati.
The consignment of ganja was meant to be transported to Bihar from Tripura.
After receiving inputs regarding the illegal transportation of ganja, a police team led by the officer in-charge of Byrnihat Outpost, Alphius N Sangma, intercepted the truck (CG 04 JD 3183) driven by one Pratosh Kumar Patel from Uttar Pradesh, who is also the owner of the vehicle.
Interestingly, the driver, Patel, plainly admitted that the truck was transporting a consignment of ganja without any resistance.
The police then searched the truck and found 27 bags of ganja weighing around 500 kg, well-hidden inside the driver’s cabin, engine box and upper hood of the truck.
Also present during the recovery of the contraband were Ri Bhoi DSP Traffic, Orville Massar and CI Sadar, PS Marwein.
After being quizzed, Patel informed that the current situation prevailing due to the COVID-19 pandemic had rendered him useless and thus he resorted to this illegal activity in order to support his family.
After the contraband was tested with the Narcotics Drugs Detection Kit, the driver and handyman were detained for further interrogation. The duo will be booked as per the NDPS Act, police said.
Meanwhile, CI Sadar, PS Marwein, thanked the village leaders of 20th Mile Pahammawlein including general secretary Prince Abraham Sylliang for cooperating with the police in the bust.