Nagaland Police officials with the smuggled gold during a press conference in Kohima on October 4. (Morung Photo)
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Our Correspondent
Kohima, October 4
The Nagaland Police recovered smuggled gold worth over Rs 22 Crore from a vehicle at the Imphal-Kohima highway on October 3.
The gold was seized by Narcotic Cell police personnel of the Nagaland Police manning the interstate Narcotic Check Point at Khuzama, Kohima. They intercepted an XUV-300, bearing registration number MN01AS-1325, and after a thorough search of the car, recovered smuggled gold, weighing approximately 48.14 kg worth approximately Rs 22,78,46,620 (twenty two crores seventy eight lakhs forty six thousand six hundred twenty).
Sandeep M Tamgadge, ADGP (Law & order) informed this to media persons here today in the presence of Roopa M, DIG, CID; Manoj Kumar, SP (Crime); Imlisunep, IGP (CID); and Bendangchuba Jamir, SP (N&P).
The gold bars, hidden inside the cover of the gear lever of the vehicle, were packed neatly in 29 packets.
“This is perhaps one of the biggest seizure of the gold that the state police has done till date and may be one of the largest seizure of gold all over the country,” said Tamgadge.
Each packet contained 10 gold bars, and weighed approximately 166 grams each.
The smuggled gold and the SUV have been seized and two persons have been arrested. Police identified the arrested persons as Saurabh Singh (35) and Pawan Kumar (45), both residents of Uttar Pradesh. They have been detained for further questioning to initiate appropriate legal action, police informed.
Meanwhile, Tamgadge said that the Nagaland Police is committed to control the drug smuggling menace. He stated that the State police have started to increase their efforts to contain this menace.
“It will be our endeavor to ensure that the main highway which is coming from Manipur taking Nagaland, Assam and rest of the country is made free of all kinds of illegal activities,” he said.
Heroin & Opium seizure
Meanwhile, based on intelligence input about movement of illegal drugs along NH-29, the Highway Patrol Unit of Kohima Police under the supervision of SDPO (North) intercepted one Maruti Baleno bearing registered number ASO1DF-6555 and detected 532 grams of suspected heroin packed in 42 soap cases on the morning of October 4.
The contraband was found concealed in a specially modified compartment of the vehicle.
In this connection, 4 persons namely Chochong Thomsong (24), Lunlalsem Haokip (27), Lunminlal Doungel (18) and Alein Thomsong (26) have been arrested and the contraband along with the vehicle have been seized.
The value of the illegal drug is found to be worth approximately Rs 2 crores in the international market. Accordingly, a case has been registered at Sechu (Zubza) Police Station for further investigation, police informed
In another case, the Narcotics police personnel also recovered heroin weighing approximately 552 grams at the Narcotic Check Point, Khuzama, Kohima on October 2. The contraband was recovered from a individual identified as one Riyajuddin in a vehicle bearing registration number WB26K-7585 (A-Star).
In this connection a regular case vide Narcotic cell PS has been registered for further investigation.
On October 3, Narcotics personnel at the same check gate seized suspected opium packed in 12 packets wrapped with brown tape weighing approximately 1 kg each from the possession of two persons. The arrested persons were identified as Tularam Sarki (41) and Sagar Ghali (22), both residents of Manipur. A case has been registered at the Narcotic Cell PS for further investigation, police said.
