Security forces in Manipur's Senapati district seized 15.35 kg of suspected opium concealed in a vehicle with fake army credentials and arrested the driver on Sunday.
The arrested driver, Tarkeshwar Singh (45), was identified as a resident of Hijuguri Gaon in Tinsukia district, Assam.
The seizure was made at 9am while conducting frisking and checking at T Khellen check-post by a joint team of Senapati Operation Team (SOT), D-78 CRPF, B-109 QAT CRPF and 16 Assam Rifles under the supervision of Senapati superintendent of police Zaib Shaikh.
The vehicle, bearing registration number AS23AK 5541, was fitted with a VIP flag post and travelling without an escort vehicle, which raised suspicion.
During inspection, police found 17 packets of opium weighing around 15.35 kg concealed in a compartment under the rear right door of the vehicle.
The police confirmed that neither the vehicle nor the driver belonged to the army, and the accused used the insignia of the army and the nameplate only for evading police checks.
A case has been registered at Senapati police station under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
