EMN
Dimapur, June 4
Kohima police have confiscated at least 1000 kilograms of processed contraband of a species of Ginseng in two separate incidents in Kohima district on June 4. Four persons from Manipur have been arrested in this connection. Police authorities of Kohima district issued a press release on Thursday, June 4, informing of the day’s catch.
On June 4 at around 3 AM, personnel of the Kohima police manning Peducha check gate were conducting routine checking duties. During the engagement, they stopped a Manipur-bound bus (MN04A-4992) and on searching it, the enforcement personnel found approximately 190 kilograms of Paris Polyphylla Tubers (a species of ginseng).
The police have estimated the worth of the processed contraband to be around Rs. 9.5 lakh. The police authorities informed that the contraband was found concealed inside “bags without transit pass”.
During preliminary enquiry by the police, the handyman of the bus is said to have revealed that he was paid Rs 2000 by a lady to transport the consignment to Senapati. The handyman of the vehicle was identified as one Sunil Sharma (32) of Canchipur under Imphal district of Manipur. He was taken into police custody. He was booked under sections of the Indian Forest Act.In another incident, also on June 4, personnel of a mobile unit of Kohima district police on duty along the Old By-pass near Kohima town found two Mahindra Scorpios (NL-08-0285 and MN-06L-3180). The personnel found 900 kilograms of Paris Polyphylla from the two vehicles.
The police estimated the worth of the contraband to be around Rs 45 lakhs.
Three persons have been identified in this connection and taken into police custody. They are Zebedee (45) of lower Phoibung village under Senapati district of Manipur and resident of Tenyiphe village in Dimapur; Alexander (44) of Maiba village of Senapati district under Manipur; Samson (33) of Tummgam village under Senapati district of Manipur. They have been arrested and booked on charges of violations of the Indian Forest Act, the police authorities informed.
