IMPHAL: In a significant operation along the Manipur-Nagaland border, Manipur police have successfully apprehended an alleged drug smuggler and seized a substantial quantity of contraband. The arrest marks the culmination of intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb the illicit drug trade in the region.
The operation, carried out by the Senapati district police, was initiated based on credible intelligence inputs. The team strategically intercepted a vehicle traveling from Senapati (Manipur) to Nagaland on NH 102. The incident took place on the Imphal-Dimapur highway, approximately 2 km south of the Mao police station.
The vehicle, a Tata Yodha, was subjected to thorough frisking and checking by the police team in the presence of an Executive Magistrate. The driver, identified as 36-year-old Songkhanching Haokip from Chassad village in Manipur's Ukhrul district, raised suspicions.
During the meticulous search, law enforcement discovered 35 soap cases cleverly concealed on the upper hood (tarpaulin cover) of the vehicle. Subsequent inspection of the soap cases revealed a staggering 421.60 grams of brown sugar, with the weight of the soap cases excluded.
The seized brown sugar is estimated to have a street value of around Rs 45 lakhs, underscoring the magnitude of the illicit drug trade that law enforcement is contending with. This latest confiscation adds to the 1.630 kilograms of brown sugar previously recovered from two alleged smugglers along the same border since November 2, 2023.
Following the discovery, Songkhanching Haokip was formally arrested by the police. The suspect and the seized contraband were then handed over to the Mao police station for further legal proceedings. This operation is a testament to the collaborative efforts of intelligence gathering and proactive policing, reflecting a commitment to tackling the menace of drug trafficking in the region.
As authorities continue their crackdown on illicit activities, this latest arrest and drug seizure send a clear message about the determination to maintain law and order, safeguard communities, and disrupt the illegal drug trade network thriving along the Manipur-Nagaland border.
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