SHILLONG, June 15: Two drug peddlers were arrested in separate incidents and heroin weighing 278 and 353 grams was recovered from their possession, the state police said on Thursday.
In the first incident, the Anti Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) of the state police nabbed one Shokhothang Touthang (41) from Imphal Langol Manipur, and seized 278.03 grams of heroin from his possession in East Jaintia Hills district.
Police had received intel that the drug peddler was proceeding from Aizawl towards Shillong carrying a consignment of illegal contraband. Before intercepting the drug peddler, the ANTF team along with personnel of Khliehriat police station set up a naka checking at BMS Fuel Station, Nongsning.
Around 5 pm, the suspect was detained and 26 soap cases containing yellowish orange powder were recovered from his bag pack.
“Preliminary test gave a positive result for heroin. A case is being registered at Khliehriat police station and investigation is on to reveal the backward and forward linkages,” the police said.
Besides the heroin, police also seized two mobile phones and Rs 2,100 in cash.
In another incident around 6 pm in the evening, the ANTF intercepted another vehicle near BMS Fuel station Nongsning.
On being questioned, the driver of the vehicle, one Sujit Paul (31) from Karimganj Assam revealed that he was carrying a consignment of illegal contraband in the vehicle, which was meant to be delivered to Shillong.
After searching the vehicle, the police found 33 soap boxes concealed in the trunk of the vehicle.
Preliminary test revealed the powder in the box to be positive for heroin weighing 353.34 grams.