Man arrested for using fake Army-marked car to smuggle opium in Manipur
Security forces in Manipur recovered more than 15 kg of suspected opium from a car that was made to look like a high-ranking Army officer's
Security forces in Manipur recovered more than 15 kg of suspected opium from a car that was made to look like a high-ranking Army officer's official vehicle and arrested the driver, officials said. According to officials, the seizure was made on Saturday during an anti-narcotics drive carried out jointly by the local police and central forces in Senapati district. The vehicle, a Toyota Innova, was fitted with a VIP flag post and bearing the insignia of a Brigadier-level officer.
Read Full Story A nameplate bearing the words "Army" on one side and "Ministry of Defence" on the other was also displayed on the car. Despite the high-level markings, the Innova was being driven without any security escort. This aroused suspicion and security personnel subsequently ordered it to stop for checking. Police said the subsequent verification revealed that neither the driver nor the vehicle had any sort of affiliation with the Indian Army. A thorough search of the car allegedly led to the recovery of 17 packets of suspected opium concealed inside a specially fabricated compartment beneath the rear right door.
The contraband weighed approximately 15.3 kg, per the police. Investigators believe the insignia and nameplate were being used to evade security checks. The accused, identified as 45-year-old Tarkeshwar Singh, was arrested on the spot. Besides the car and the suspected illicit narcotics, two mobile phones, Rs 5,000 in cash, a PAN card, and a voter identity card were also recovered from his possession, per officials. Singh is a resident of Assam's Tinsukia district. Relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been invoked against him.
Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source and intended destination of the consignment, as well as any possible links to a wider trafficking network. Ends
The BriefWire