By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 8: Agencies such as Border Security Force (BSF), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Customs department filed separate affidavits before the High Court of Meghalaya, outlining their drives against narcotics and other contraband items.
The BSF gave a chart highlighting seizures and cases registered from January last year till date. It handed over the seized items to Dalu, Gasuapara, Mahendraganj and Purakhasia police stations after cases were registered.
The affidavit filed by the NCB mentioned that the agency registered one case pertaining to Meghalaya. It was about the recovery and seizure of 1.957 kg of methamphetamine tablets.
Investigation revealed the trafficking of contraband from Silchar in Assam towards Mawsynram with further cross-border linkages. The approximate value of the methamphetamine was about Rs 1.56 crore. The NCB also effected seizures of contraband in proximate transit corridors of the Northeast, particularly Assam’s Barak Valley area.
The agency gave a chart of six cases registered from January last year till date. The seizures were essentially methamphetamine and heroin worth crores of rupees.
The affidavit stated that NCB field offices were established in Aizawl and Dimapur in 2025 to curb trafficking at source, particularly in view of cross-border trafficking through areas bordering Myanmar.
It was further stated that a robust mechanism had been established through the Narco Coordination Centre, which operates at multiple levels to facilitate coordination among stakeholders involved in drug law enforcement.
The affidavit mentioned that the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) was set up in Meghalaya in 2023 and a dedicated ANTF Police Station was established in 2025 for investigating offences under the NDPS Act.
According to the affidavit, the central government provided assistance of Rs 83.50 lakh to Meghalaya under the Assistance to States/Union Territories Scheme for Narcotic Control to fight the menace.
The Customs department, in its affidavit, stated that under eight divisions and headquarters, there are 36 preventive units which are actively engaged in anti-smuggling operations. The organisational structure comprising the eight divisions is Shillong, Guwahati, Dhubri, Karimganj, Imphal, Aizawl, Dimapur and Agartala.
The Customs department gave a chart to show the seizure of contraband and narcotic substances from 2023 to 2026, during which 27 cases were registered and heroin was seized.
Also, 30 cases relating to seizure of ganja, and 38 cases pertaining to seizure of other narcotic substances, including brown sugar, were registered.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh, in an order said the Additional Senior Government Advocate sought time to take instructions regarding the cases registered at Dalu, Gasuapara, Mahendraganj and Purakhasia police stations, particularly on the status of the cases, the fate of the contraband seized and deposited by the BSF, and the steps taken for its destruction.
Earlier, the court had directed the police authorities to continue with the patrolling, particularly in areas where drug peddlers are allegedly known to operate.
The Additional Senior Government Advocate sought time to place on record, by way of an affidavit, the steps taken by the police in compliance with the order. The court issued directions for filing the affidavit in the Registry within three weeks.
