Shillong, April 27: The East Jaintia Hills police seized a huge quantity of contraband heroin from a Mahindra pick-up truck (without registration plate) during an operation at Rattachera check post in the district at around 8.30 am today.
The police party found the vehicle to be carrying one black plastic gallon(drum) of 50 liters capacity. Upon examining the gallon, packets containing suspected contraband substances were recovered from the drum.
Upon examination, the driver revealed that the contraband substance was brought from Churachandpur, Manipur to be transported to Shillong.
The driver has been identified as one Nehtinmang Haokip (36 years), son of Janglet Haokip from M Songgel village, Churachandpur district of Manipur.
In the presence of independent witnesses, 84 soap cases, each filled with yellowish/orange powder suspected to be heroin, was recovered from the drum.
During preliminary test it was confirmed positive for heroin. The weight and measurement were conducted on the spot using a digital weight machine, and the net weight of the recovered suspected heroin was found around 900 gms with market value of Rs 7.2 crores.
The contraband substance (heroin), the bolero pick up vehicle and one mobile phone were seized by the police.
The driver of the vehicle has been detained and a case under NDPS Act has been registered in this regard.