Imphal: Manipur police has seized 136.3 kg of opium valued over Rs 10 crore in the international market which was allegedly being smuggled to Rajasthan.
The opium was recovered from a truck, and following the recovery of the contraband item, the police arrested the driver identified as one Sajid Mohammad (44) of Jodhapur of Rajasthan, police said.
From the disclosure made by the driver, the police revealed that the opium belonged to one Ohm Prakash, a resident of Jodhapur of Rajasthan, said Imphal West superintendent, Ksh Shivakanta.
Addressing a press conference, the police officer said that a team of Imphal West police commandos seized the contraband item during a check to the truck, based on specific information on Tuesday evening, around 9.30 pm.
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The truck came from Rajasthan with a plywood consignment and arrived in Imphal recently. The opium was being smuggled to Rajasthan on its way back to that state, the police officer also alleged.
He said that acting on the specific information, the a team of Imphal West police commandos conducted a thorough check to the vehicle.
A total of 131 packets of opium were found in a specially prepared extra box underneath the vehicle. On further checking, seven more packets of the same item were recovered from the dashboard near the driver’s cabin, he said.
An FIR case was registered to the Imphal police station for further investigation into the seizure, the police officer also said.
As revealed by the driver, the police officer said, owner Ohm Prakash purchased the item from a local man.
Police have initiated an investigation to arrest those people involved in the smuggling racket, the police officer added.
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