By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 17: Three women, suspected to be notorious drug suppliers, were on Sunday apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Meghalaya, in coordination with the East Jaintia Hills District Police. Four travel bags containing 80 soap boxes (961.33 grams) of heroin were recovered from their possession estimated to be worth Rs 4 crore in the illegal market.
Based on credible intelligence, the team conducted a naka operation under the jurisdiction of Lumshnong Police Station at Umkiang Police Patrol Post in the early hours of Sunday.
East Jaintia Hills SP Vikash Kumar stated that the arrested women are believed to be part of a larger organised crime syndicate—an interstate gang transporting drugs from Manipur to Shillong and beyond to other parts of India.
According to Kumar, the ANTF and East Jaintia Hills Police received information around 11 pm on Saturday regarding three women travelling from Churachandpur, Manipur, to Shillong in public transport, allegedly carrying narcotics.
Acting swiftly, a naka was set up at Umkiang Patrol Post, and at around 11 am on Sunday, the team intercepted a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso.
The three suspects—identified as Kimnei (33), daughter of Seipu; Dimkhothing (47); and Ngaiting (40), daughter of Mangpu — all residents of Khongjom, PS Tengnoupal, Manipur — were apprehended.
In the presence of independent witnesses, a search was conducted under Section 50 of the NDPS Act. Four travel bags containing heroin, packed in 80 plastic soap boxes and weighing 961.33 grams, were recovered. The seized drugs tested positive for heroin.
A case has been registered at Lumshnong Police Station under the NDPS Act, and an investigation is under way to trace both backward and forward linkages of the syndicate, Kumar added.
The SP further appealed to the public, requesting that anyone with information about other individuals involved in the racket should immediately inform their nearest police station. He assured that informants’ identities would be kept confidential and that suitable rewards would be given.