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Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 4 (EMN): In what could be the biggest seizure of gold in Nagaland so far, the Narcotics Cell PS personnel of Nagaland Police seized smuggled gold weighing about 48.14 kg and worth approximately INR 22, 78, 46, 620 on Sunday morning.
This was informed by the ADGP, Law and Order, Sandeep M Tamgadge at the Police Headquarters (PHQ) Kohima at a press conference. He was accompanied by Imlisunep IGP of CID, Roopa M, DIGP of CID; Bendangchuba Jamir, SP- Narcotics and Manoj Kumar SP – Crime and the team that seized the smuggled goods on Monday.
Tamgadge said the seizure was made in the morning of October 3 by the Narcotic Cell PS personnel of Nagaland Police manning the interstate Narcotic Point at Khuzama, Kohima.
The 290 gold bars were stated to have been hidden inside the cover of the gear lever of a XUV-300 vehicle, packed neatly in 29 packets, each containing 10 gold bars and weighing approximately 166 grams each, on the Kohima-Imphal national highway.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the vehicle was coming from Manipur.
“This is perhaps the biggest seizure of gold that the state police has done till date, maybe one of the biggest seizures all over the country,” said the ADGP.
The police added that the smuggled gold and the vehicle carrying the yellow metal had been seized and two persons -- Saurabh Singh (35) and Pawan Kumar (45) -- both residents of Uttar Pradesh, were detained for further questioning to initiate appropriate legal action.
Further, it was informed that the seizure was made during a regular checking conducted by the IC of the Khuzama check post.
It was informed that the case is under investigation and will be intensified in co-ordination with multiple investigating agencies in different places.
Meanwhile, the official informed that the gold will be deposited in the ‘malkhana’ and subsequently after the completion of the investigation, be handed to the court of law.
Meanwhile, the official also added that on the evening of October 2, the Narcotic Cell PS personnel of Nagaland Police manning the Narcotic interstate checkpoint at Khuzama recovered and seized illegal contraband suspected to be heroin packed in 46 soap cases weighing approximately 552 grams.
The contraband items were recovered from the possession of Md Riyajuddin, a resident of Imphal in Manipur.
It maintained that a regular Narcotic cell PS case No 11/2021 U/S (c) / 60 NDPS Act was registered for further investigation.
In another case, Kohima police under the supervision of SDPO (North) recovered 532 grams of suspected heroin in the early hours of Monday, and arrested four persons.
Kohima Police in a press statement informed that based on a specific intelligence input about movement of illegal drugs along NH-29, highway patrol unit of Kohima Police intercepted a vehicle carrying 532 grams of suspected heroin drug neatly packed in 42 soap cases on October 4 at around 5:30 am.
The contraband was found concealed in a specially modified compartment of the said vehicle, it stated.
Four persons namely Chochong Thomsong (24), Lunlalsem Haokip (27), Lunminal Doungel (18) and Alein Thomgsong (26) were arrested and the contraband along with the vehicle had been seized, it stated.
It further stated that during preliminary investigation, the value of the illegal drugs was found to be worth approximately INR 2 crore in the international market. Accordingly, a case has been registered at Sechü (Zubza) police station for further investigation.
In yet another case, the Narcotic Cell PS personnel of Nagaland Police manning the Narcotic interstate checkpoint at Khuzama recovered and seized illegal contraband suspected to be opium packed in 12 packets wrapped with brown tape weighing approximately 1 kg each, on October 3.
They were recovered from the possession of two persons – Tularam Sarki (41) and Sagar Ghali (22), both residents of Manipur.
A case has been registered on this for further investigation.
ADGP Tamgadge asserted that Nagaland Police is committed to control the drug menace and psychotropic narcotic substances, along with the rest of the country.
“It will be our endeavour to ensure that the main highway which is coming from Manipur linking Nagaland, Assam and rest of the country is made free of all kind of illegal activities,” he said, adding that the state police had increased its efforts to control the menace over the last few months.
The official added that the state police had also increased the facilities, forces and its activities in Dimapur.