Aizawl: A total of 2.02 lakh methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 19.21 crore was seized at Keifang town on Monday evening.Police officials from Saitual district, bordering Manipur, seized the contraband weighing 24.016kg, H Ramthlengliana, IGP and chief public relation officer of the state police, said on Tuesday.Ramthlengliana said a car bearing Meghalaya registration proceeding from Manipur towards Aizawl was stopped by police and searched on the outskirts of the Keifang junction. “Upon a search, 20 bundles of methamphetamine, totalling 2,02,000 tablets, with an approximate market value of Rs 19,21,28,000 was recovered. The contraband was concealed inside the back side of the vehicle, below the spare tyre compartment, and on both sides beyond the mud guard, wrapped in black polythene,” he added.Th Onkhothang Haokip (33) of Moreh in Manipur and Mathew (46) of Jolzam of Churachandpur in Manipur were transporting the drugs, he said. The contraband, along with the vehicle, was seized and both the accused were arrested on the spot. A case under Sections 22 (c)/25/29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 has been registered and investigation is underway.Enforcement agencies said though drug trafficking via Mizoram-Myanmar has been going on for a while, especially through Champhai district, traffickers have been changing their routes and transporting heroin and methamphetamine via Manipur.
