Manipur cops apprehend two with heroin worth Rs 27.15 crore

IMPHAL, June 12 (NNN): Manipur police have seized heroin powder worth over Rs 27.15 crore in international market with the arrest of two alleged drug traffickers. The police identified the drug traffickers as Thaovikhu of Senapati district and Letkhohao of Churachandpur district.
Letkhohao who is alleged to be a drug smuggler was arrested in a follow up action based on the disclosure made by Thaovikhu on Friday, police said on Saturday.
Police said that a team of Kangpokpi police on frisking and checking duty along NH-2 at its Kalapahar outpost stopped one Chevrolet car driven by Thaovikhu on suspicion. The vehicle was stopped and during checking by the police team, the driver was found behaving in a very suspicious manner, following which he was subjected to a spot verification.
The driver of the vehicle was preliminary questioned tactfully at the spot and he eventually admitted that he is a drug peddler transporting illegal drugs along the highway, according to police. During a thorough check to the vehicle, heroin powder packed in 71 soap cases was found concealed in the vehicle.
The police said that based on his disclosure, the police personnel conducted a search in the vehicle following due formalities in the presence of an executive magistrate and independent witnesses. During the check, the police recovered 71 soap cases containing suspected heroin powder weighing 2.955 kg including the weight of the plastic soap cases.
He further divulged that he obtained the contraband drug from one Letkhohao.
Immediately a team led by sub-inspector S Raju Singh of the Kangpokpi police along with a team of Churachandpur district police immediately rushed to the house of Letkhohao.
The police teams conducted a search in the house of Letkhohao in the presence of executive magistrate and independent witnesses and recovered 110 soap cases of suspected heroin powder. He was arrested by observing formalities.
A regular case under FIR No. 22(6)2022 KPI-PS u/s 21(c)/60(3) ND & PS Act has been registered for investigation.
Both the accused persons were produced into concerned court and remanded into police custody till June 17 for further investigation, police added.