Imphal: The anti-narcotic task force of the Manipur Police, in coordination with central security forces, arrested an alleged drug smuggler and seized narcotic substances valued at more than Rs 4.1 crore in the black market during a joint operation in the border district of Tengnoupal on Wednesday.
Officials said the operation was carried out on the basis of specific intelligence inputs regarding cross-border drug trafficking from Myanmar. The interception took place at a naka check post under Tengnoupal police station.
A Mahindra Thar bearing registration number MN-01-AW-8063 was stopped and searched by the joint team. During the inspection, security personnel recovered 2.33 kg of World is Yours (WY) tablets, a form of methamphetamine, and 0.592 kg of brown sugar.
According to the police, the brown sugar was concealed in 16 multi-coloured soap cases, while the WY tablets were packed in four plastic packets and hidden inside the vehicle. The team also seized a mobile phone, an Aadhaar card and the registration certificate (RC) of the vehicle.
The identity of the arrested individual has been withheld by the authorities citing security considerations.
Officials noted that the seizure represents a significant haul given the high street value of methamphetamine tablets in the black market. According to estimates by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the street price of WY methamphetamine ranges between Rs 2 to 5 crore per kilogram.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the origin and intended destination of the consignment, as well as the possible involvement of cross-border trafficking networks operating along the Indo-Myanmar border, the police said.