SHILLONG, Aug 10: More than 1,500 kg of high-quality marijuana (ganja), valued at Rs 4.7 crore in the international grey market, was seized by the police in East Jaintia Hills district on Tuesday.
The police said the contraband, suspected to have been smuggled from Tripura and seized from a vehicle bearing Tripura registration number, was destined for Bihar via Guwahati.
It was neatly packed in 212 carton slabs, each weighing between four kg and ten kg. The seizure was made on Tuesday evening, Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa said.
The truck driver was asked to stop at a police checkpoint under Lumshnong police station but he did not. The vehicle was later found abandoned at a distance, he said.
A case was registered with the Lumshnong police station. The SP said an investigation is on to trace the transporters and the owner of the consignment.
Overjoyed with the recent seizures of contraband items by the police from different parts of the state, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the real fight against drugs has already started. He said the police will not spare anyone involved in drugs trade.
“There should be sustained efforts. We should take the matter to its logical conclusion wherever we dismantle the network of drugs by punishing the peddlers and traffickers and rehabilitating those affected,” Rymbui said.
Asked about the involvement of women, he said some are joining the trade as it is lucrative. But everyone involved must be identified for necessary action according to the law, he insisted.
He denied that the rate of conviction is low. He said people have been convicted whenever there was solid evidence against them.
The minister also denied claims that drugs are being sold in the open market in broad daylight in Shillong. He said the police had taken prompt action against drugs business in Polo area.
The police made huge seizures of drugs and marijuana in recent times and arrested several peddlers.
The National People’s Party (NPP) sought to take credit for all recent drug hauls.
On its Facebook page, the party said the Conrad K Sangma government has a zero tolerance policy against drugs and that the future of the state is in safe hands.
The operations against drugs intensified after Lajja Ram Bishnoi had donned the mantle of Director General of Police.
