Reported by Bit Irom
Imphal: Security forces in Manipur‘s Senapati district foiled an alleged drug smuggling attempt after intercepting a Toyota Innova fitted with fake Indian Army Brigadier insignia and recovering 15.35 kg of suspected opium concealed inside the vehicle.
The operation was carried out on Sunday morning at the T. Khullen check-post along National Highway-102 (Imphal-Dimapur road) by a joint team comprising the Special Operations Team (SOT) of Senapati Police, the CRPF and the Assam Rifles. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Senapati Superintendent of Police Zaib Shaikh, IPS.
According to officials, the white Toyota Innova bearing Assam registration number AS23AK5541 was stopped during routine vehicle checks at around 9 am. Security personnel became suspicious after noticing that the vehicle carried a VIP flag post and displayed the insignia of an Army Brigadier, including a one-star emblem and nameplates marked “ARMY” and “MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,” despite travelling without any official escort.
The sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Tarkeshwar Singh (45), son of Rajdeo Singh and a resident of Hijuguri Gaon in Margherita, Assam‘s Tinsukia district.
Following the suspicious circumstances, security personnel conducted a detailed search of the SUV in the presence of an Executive Magistrate. During the inspection, they discovered 17 packets of suspected opium weighing a total of 15.35 kg hidden inside a specially fabricated compartment beneath the vehicle’s rear right door.
Preliminary verification revealed that neither the driver nor the vehicle had any affiliation with the Indian Army. Investigators believe the fake military insignia and Ministry of Defence markings were deliberately used to avoid scrutiny and facilitate the transportation of narcotics through security checkpoints.
The accused was taken into custody, and the contraband, along with the vehicle and several personal belongings, including two mobile phones, a PAN card, a voter ID card and Rs 5,000 in cash, were seized.
Singh and the recovered items were subsequently handed over to Senapati Police Station. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police have launched a further investigation to identify the source of the narcotics, trace the intended destination, and uncover any larger drug trafficking network linked to the case.
