Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati
Guwahati, Aug 11: 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 around Rs 13 crore in Assam’s Sribhumi district, officials said on Tuesday.
The joint operation was conducted by Assam Rifles under the Spear Corps along with Assam Police at Badarpur in Sribhumi district, based on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of narcotics.
Acting on the information, the security forces and police launched a coordinated operation and intercepted a suspected drug trafficker. During the operation, 8.224 kg of morphine was recovered from his possession. The seized contraband is estimated to have a market value of approximately Rs 13 crore, officials said.
A vehicle allegedly used for transporting the narcotics was also seized.
The apprehension and seizure mark a significant success for Assam Rifles and Assam Police in their efforts to disrupt the supply and distribution of illegal drugs in the northeastern region.
Officials said the operation demonstrated effective coordination between the security forces and state police in tackling organised narcotics networks operating across the region.
The seizure assumes significance as the Northeast has emerged as an important transit route for narcotics because of its proximity to international borders and established trafficking corridors. Security agencies have stepped up surveillance and are conducting joint operations to identify and dismantle networks involved in the transportation and distribution of illegal drugs.
The morphine and the seized vehicle have been taken into custody for further investigation. Authorities are now working to establish the source of the narcotics, its intended destination and the wider network allegedly involved in the trafficking operation.
The apprehended person is being questioned as part of the investigation, officials said.
Assam Rifles and Assam Police have reiterated their commitment to sustained coordinated action against narcotics trafficking and other activities that threaten the security and social fabric of the region.
Further investigation is underway.