Assam Rifles, police seize morphine worth Rs 13 crore, arrest drug peddler

Guwahati, Aug 11 (IANS) In a major crackdown on narcotics trafficking, Assam Rifles and Assam Police have apprehended a suspected drug peddler and seized 8.224 kg of morphine worth approximately Rs 13 crore in Assam’s Sribhumi district, officials said on Tuesday.

The joint operation was carried out by Assam Rifles under the Spear Corps along with Assam Police at Badarpur in Sribhumi district.

Acting on specific inputs regarding the movement of narcotics, the security forces and police launched a coordinated operation in the area and intercepted a suspected drug trafficker. During the operation, the team recovered 8.224 kg of morphine from the possession of the apprehended individual. The seized contraband has an estimated market value of around Rs 13 crore, officials said.

One vehicle allegedly being used in connection with the transportation of the narcotics was also seized during the operation.

The apprehension and recovery mark a significant success for the security forces and Assam Police in their continuing efforts to disrupt the supply and distribution of illegal drugs in the northeastern region.

Officials said the operation demonstrated effective coordination between Assam Rifles and the state police in tackling organised narcotics networks operating across the region.

The latest seizure assumes significance as the Northeast has increasingly emerged as a key transit route for narcotics due to its proximity to international borders and established trafficking corridors.

Security agencies have been maintaining heightened surveillance and conducting joint operations to identify and dismantle networks involved in the transportation and distribution of illegal drugs.

The operation at Badarpur also highlights the importance of inter-district coordination and cooperation between central security forces and state law enforcement agencies in combating organised drug trafficking.

The seized morphine and the vehicle have been taken into custody for further investigation.

Authorities are expected to ascertain the source of the narcotics, its intended destination and the wider network involved in the trafficking operation.

The apprehended person is being questioned as part of the investigation, officials said.

The Assam Rifles and Assam Police have reiterated their commitment to continuing coordinated action against narcotics trafficking and other activities that pose a threat to the security and social fabric of the region.

Further investigation into the case is underway.

–IANS

tdr/dpb