Senapati (Manipur), 14 June (HS): A joint team of security forces in Manipur's Senapati district busted an alleged drug smuggling attempt and recovered more than 15 kg of suspected opium from a vehicle falsely presented as an Army officer's official car. One person was arrested during the operation.

The interception took place at the T. Khullen check post at around 9 a.m. during a routine checking drive conducted by personnel of the Senapati Police Special Operations Team (SOT), CRPF and Assam Rifles under the supervision of Senapati Superintendent of Police Zaib Shaikh.

Officials stopped a Toyota Innova bearing registration number AS23AK5541 after noticing it was carrying military-style insignia and a VIP flag post despite moving without any official escort. The driver was identified as Tarkeshwar Singh (45), a resident of Hijuguri village in Assam's Tinsukia district.

During verification, security personnel found a Brigadier rank insignia and nameplates displaying “ARMY” and “MINISTRY OF DEFENCE” on the vehicle. Subsequent checks revealed that neither the vehicle nor its driver had any connection with the Indian Army, raising suspicions that the markings were being used to evade security scrutiny.

A thorough search uncovered 17 packets of suspected opium hidden inside a specially designed compartment beneath the rear right door of the vehicle. The seized contraband weighed approximately 15.35 kg, including packaging.

The accused was taken into custody at the spot in the presence of an Executive Magistrate. Authorities also seized the vehicle, two mobile phones, a wallet containing ₹5,000 in cash, a PAN card and a voter identity card.

Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators are now probing the origin and destination of the narcotics and examining possible links to a larger drug trafficking network.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash