Imphal: Security forces arrested three alleged smugglers, including a woman, during operations conducted at Manipur’s Imphal International Airport and in Churachandpur district, leading to the recovery of contraband worth over Rs 15 lakh in the international market, officials said on Saturday.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel arrested two non-local individuals with 4.8 kg of heroin at Imphal Airport during an anti-drug operation on Friday.
The arrested individuals were identified as Suresh, son of Kanhaiyalal Prajapat, and Vijay Singh, son of Rajendra Singh, both hailing from Madhya Pradesh.
A Manipur Police morning bulletin issued on Saturday stated that the two drug peddlers were apprehended during a luggage check while attempting to board an Air India Express flight at around 3:30 pm.
The flight, scheduled to depart at 5:25 pm, was delayed by approximately 45 minutes and took off for Guwahati at 6:09 pm. After completing the necessary formalities at the airport, the duo was handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for further investigation.
In a related development, Manipur Police arrested a tribal woman, identified as Thuamlianding (56), from her grocery shop at Kannan Veng on YPA Road in Churachandpur district headquarters.
During the operation conducted on Friday night, police recovered five soap cases of heroin powder, 5.35 kg of “World is Yours” (WY) tablets, a TVS Jupiter two-wheeler (Regd. No. MN02G 9041), and a mobile phone. She was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2023, for further legal proceedings.