IMPHAL, November 27: In what has been regarded as the third largest drug haul in Thoubal district, police seized at least Rs 20 crore worth of pseudoephedrine tablets en route to Myanmar yesterday evening at around 7.30 pm. Five persons including a jamandar of 8th Manipur Rifles were arrested on charge of ferrying the contraband items.
A team of the Thoubal District Police under the command of constable O Tomba Singh, while proceeding to Thoubal from Imphal, came across some suspicious activities near Chabok Lamkhai along the Imphal-Moreh highway. He saw two vehicles, a Maruti Gypsy hard top bearing registration number MNOIX-4234 and a Ford Ikon car bearing registration number MN070-0275, transferring some airbags from one vehicle to the other.
On checking the bags, police found that they contained a large quantity of pseudoephedrine tablets. A total of 1880 strips of Brumet, another 1880 strips of Polyfed and 78 packets containing 10,000 loose tablets were seized from the smugglers.
Among the five persons arrested included a security personnel of the 8th Manipur Rifles Jamandar identified as Hollal Haokip,41, JC number 605, a resident of Chassad Avenue and presently stationed at UBI Bank of Moreh.
His companions involved in the transportation of the drugs were identified as Lunminthang Haokip alias Lulun, 27, son of (L) Paolet Haokip of Moreh Canan Veng; Vahkim Haokip alias Kim, 36, wife of late Thongkholet Haokip of Pallel Kolenphai at present staying at Checkon; Chin Chin Haokip, 46, wife of late Jamon Haokip of Kotenphai Khunou of Pallel and Jankhoisei Bolsom alias Seiboy alias Hesei, 22, son of Lhunkholet Bolsom of Moreh Ward number 1, Khonomphai.
On priliminary interrogation, the said drugs were handed over to them by Md Nanao of Lilong Makha Leikai at Lillong area for transportation to Myanmar.
They were produced before the District and Sessions judge, Thoubal and remanded to police custody for 10 days. Police filed an FIR number 109(11) 2013 at Lillong PS under section 22/25/25-A/29 NDPS Act.