SHILLONG: In a major haul, 784 kg of ganja (cannabis) worth over Rs 49 lakh, packed in 51 packets was seized by the Customs from Shillong bypass on Saturday.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner (Headquarters Preventive), I.R. Kharkongor said acting on a tip off, the Customs headquarters, Preventive Unit, Shillong intercepted one truck bearing Punjab registration number near Diengpasoh toll gate on Shillong bypass and recovered the ganja.
The truck was also seized and a case registered under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985.
Total value of seizure is Rs. 49, 24,340.
The ganja consignment was concealed in a specially made secret chamber made behind the driver’s cabin, the Customs said.
The contraband item was loaded from a place near Agartala and was meant for delivery at Guwahati. Two other number plates having Nagaland registration were also seized from the truck.
Initial investigation revealed that the truck was being used regularly to carry cannabis from Tripura using false number plates. The driver of the truck hailing from Assam has been arrested.
Investigation has been launched to apprehend other persons involved in procurement, transportation and smuggling of the seized consignment of the drugs.
In another case, on May 11, the Customs had also seized 1500 kg of cannabis valued Rs.1.05 crore from a truck at Silchar which was coming from Imphal. The driver of the truck was arrested under NDPS Act, 1985 and has been produced before the Court at Silchar.
Manipur and Tripura are the main source of cannabis in the region and organised gangs are actively involved in transporting the same to different parts of the country adopting various modus operandi.
