4.5 kg drugs worth 27 crores held; BJP leader among culprits

The narcotics officials had a field day with the capture of 4.5kg drugs worth 27 crores, along with rifles, and party drugs in Manipur.

The Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) arrested seven people including Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Chairman of an Autonomous District Council (ADC) in Chandel district, Lutkhosei Zou, with drugs valued at over Rs 27 crore on Wednesday.

A special team of the NAB had conducted the raid, led by ASP Brinda Thounaojam and the state police after receiving a tip-off. The NAB had been on the kingpin’s trail for some time and that the ADC’s name has come in the aftermath of the drug peddlers arrest

The seizures include 4.595kg of heroin, 28kg of World is Yours (WY) tablets and Rs 57.18 lakh and old currency notes worth Rs. 95,000.

The team also recovered one 0.32 NPB Pistol with 21 rounds, one SBBL Rifle, two gun license books and eight bank passbooks.

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The other seven persons arrested have been identified as Esther Vungheinuam, Mung Zou Aric, Teresa Ngaite Nengboi, Lawrence Zou, Minlal Mate, Sio Jamthang Mate and Mt Jamkhohao, public relations officer of the council chairman.

Lutkhosei got elected as the Indian National Congress (INC) candidate last year and later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the council in Chandel.

At first, Lutkhosei Zou refused to co-operate with the investigation and barred them from entering, saying that he would take the matter with the higher authorities. He had called on the Chief Minister and the top police officials who said they would not interfere in the matter.

Having no choice & failing to get support Lutkhosei Zou co-operated with the raid and the investigation.

Zou led the police team to his house at Langol Game Village where he had hidden two suitcases purportedly packed with illegal contraband drugs.

There he pulled out two large suitcases from the ceiling containing huge amounts of heroin powder packed in soap cases, plastic bags and World is Yours (WY) Amphetamine tablets.