The Manipur Cabinet has decided to hand over the case of seizure of drugs, said to be worth Rs. 16 crore, on February 24 at Pallel, approximately 60 km from the international border, to the CBI.
The drugs were to be smuggled out to Myanmar. Defence PRO Col. Ajay Choudhury, Congress MLA T. N. Haokip’s son Seikholen Haokip and people, including a top-ranking official of an airline, were arrested by the police in this connection.
Minister Moirangthem Okendra, who is the government spokesperson, said the government took a serious view of drug trafficking and the guilty would not be spared.
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Home Minister G. Gaikhangam said no leniency would be shown to the drug traffickers.The government is considering delegating more powers to police stations and posting patrols along the Pallel-Moreh portion of Highway 39. So long, the police and Assam Rifles along the 60 km-long stretch have been frisking passengers and checking vehicles. However, big shots have been making their presence felt, and it is feared that drugs are being smuggled despite the presence of authorities.