Massive drug haul in Manipur: ₹22 crore worth of meth tablets hidden in truck roof

Imphal: Manipur Police seized 57.285 kg of methamphetamine tablets worth approximately Rs 22 crore in Imphal. The drugs were cleverly concealed in the roof of a truck, and the driver, identified as Nawaj Sharif (34), was arrested.

A senior official said that the Manipur Police intercepted a truck at the New Keithelmanbi Police picket in Imphal West District on Friday night and found huge amounts of drugs concealed inside the roof of the vehicle.

In a separate operation conducted last week, a joint team of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs, Assam Rifles, and the Manipur Police, seized 7,755.75 grams of heroin valued at Rs 54.29 crore and 6,736 grams of opium valued at Rs 87.57 lakh in the international grey drug market, along with Rs 35.63 lakh cash.

Two walkie-talkies and one vehicle have also been seized, and five people were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act), the official said.

The drugs were found hidden in soap cases and small tin cans at a house in Thadou Veng, Churachandpur district.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the seized contraband drugs were smuggled into the bordering areas of Churachandpur from Myanmar through the porous forested India-Myanmar border.

With IANS inputs