KOHIMA: Achieving significant success in its fight against drug menace, the Nagaland Police claim to have successfully dismantled one of the largest inter-state drug trafficking networks.
Operating across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana, the Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma disclosed the details of the operation to the press on Wednesday.
The breakthrough came after the arrest of a smuggler and his accomplice from Manipur near Sechu Zubza on November 13.
The suspects were apprehended with drugs concealed in 90 soap cases while en route from Manipur to Dimapur.
The arrested individuals confessed to smuggling illegal substances for over a year, completing nearly 100 undetected trips and transporting around 60 kg of drugs valued at approximately Rs 400 crore, DGP Sharma revealed.
Following the initial arrests, the police conducted further investigations leading to the apprehension of 12 more accomplices.
DGP Sharma, while withholding the identities of the arrested individuals to prevent alerting others involved, stated that more arrests were expected in the coming days.
Commending the support from the Angami public, youth, and student organisations during the investigation, Sharma urged for public cooperation in preventing individuals from unwittingly aiding traffickers.
Further detailing statistics on drug busts across the state in 2023, Sharma mentioned that drugs worth Rs 199 crore had been seized since January 1 through various operations.
The police have registered 318 cases and arrested 456 individuals in connection with the recovery of drugs, including marijuana, opium, heroin, Yaba tablets, and other illicit substances, DGP Sharma informed the press.
Sharma also revealed that the Police Headquarters is actively seeking dedicated personnel to join specialised teams investigating drug-related cases.
Notably, 49 state government employees, including police personnel, are currently under investigation in drug-related charges, with eight already dismissed.
In a final caution, the DGP urged individuals with drug issues to come forward and make full disclosures to avoid arrest, emphasising that hiding drug use would result in facing the full force of the law.
