NAMSAI : In a major breakthrough in its ongoing drive against drug trafficking, Namsai district police arrested an alleged drug peddler and seized 82 grams of suspected heroin with an estimated illicit market value of about ₹16.40 lakh.
The accused, identified as Osina Chautang of Solungtoo village, was arrested following a search operation conducted on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.
According to police, the information was reduced into writing and communicated to the Superintendent of Police in compliance with Section 42 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, before the search operation was launched.
The operation was led by Namsai Sub-Divisional Police Officer Kengo Dirchi and carried out by a team comprising Namsai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Inspector T. Gadi, Sub-Inspector Sanjay Kumar, LSI S. Thoumoung and other police personnel.
Police said the search was conducted in accordance with the mandatory provisions of the NDPS Act in the presence of two independent local witnesses, including executive members of the All Namsai Area Youth Association (ANAYA). The entire search and seizure process was videographed using the e-Sakshya application to ensure transparency.
During the search of the accused’s residence, the police recovered 82 grams of suspected heroin along with other incriminating articles, all of which were seized as per legal procedures.
A case has been registered at Namsai Police Station under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, and the accused was arrested.
During preliminary interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that the suspected heroin had been procured from outside the district for further distribution. Police said the disclosure is being verified as part of the investigation.
Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the contraband, identify both forward and backward linkages and dismantle the wider drug trafficking network operating in the region.
The operation was carried out under the overall supervision of Namsai Superintendent of Police Sangey Thinley.
The district police also appreciated the cooperation extended by the executive members of ANAYA, who served as independent witnesses during the operation, and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy against narcotic drugs.
Police appealed to the public to continue sharing credible information on drug trafficking and other criminal activities, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.
