DRI books 45 cases of drug smuggling in 2024

Imphal: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has booked 45 cases of smuggling and trafficking of contraband drugs in the North Eastern Region, said a press release issued on Thursday.

The contraband drugs seized in this year included 204 kilograms of Methamphetamine Tablets, 17 kilograms of Heroin, 2369 kilograms of Ganja, 6 kilograms of Morphine and 3.72 kilograms a Hydroponic VVeed. These contrabands are worth , 366 crore in the international grey drug market.

Thirty-three vehicles used for concealing and transporting the contraband drugs were also seized. Seventy-seven persons involved in smuggling, trafficldng, and transporting the contraband drugs were also arrested and put behind bars. In one of these cases, four people travelling on the Kanchanjunga Express Train were intercepted at Guwahati Railway Station and over 4 kilograms of morphine were recovered and seized, said the press release passed by Customs Division, Imphal.

Continuing the crackdown on the smuggling and trafficking of contraband narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, DRI carried out a focused operation in the month of December 2024 in the North Eastern Region, it said.

Six cases of smuggling and trafficking of Methamphetamine Tablets, Heroin, Cannabis/Ganja and Hydroponic Weed, cumulatively valued at Rs 56.525 Cr., were made and fourteen persons were arrested and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and seven vehicles were also seized, it added.

In one case, a truck was intercepted at Khanapara in the outskirts of Guwahati and 1070 kilograms of ganja were recovered and seized from the truck which was carrying rubber sheets as cover-cargo, it added.

In another case a truck was intercepted again at Khanapara and over 3.2 kilograms of heroin was recovered and seized. In another case, an Indian national coming from Bangkok, Thailand was apprehended at Guwahati International Airport on 19th December and about 3723 grams of Hydroponic Weed, having value of Rs 3.72 crores in the international illicit drug market, were recovered and seized from the passenger.

In one major seizure of methamphetamine tablets, a truck was intercepted at Sonabarighat, Cachar and 30 kilograms a methamphetamine tablets were seized.

In another major heroü seizure, a Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Xenon were intercepted in the outskirts of Aizawl, Mizoram and over 3.7 kilograms of heroin was seized. Investigations revealed that these contraband drugs were smuggled into Manipur and Mizoram from Myanmar and Ganja is sourced from Tripura, the release said.