Security forces in Manipur’s Senapati district seized more than 15 kilograms of suspected opium from a vehicle carrying fake Army insignia and arrested its driver during a routine checking operation on Sunday, police officials said.
The operation was conducted at the T Khellen check-post by a joint team comprising the Senapati Operation Team (SOT), CRPF personnel and the Assam Rifles under the supervision of Senapati Superintendent of Police Zaib Shaikh.
According to officials, a vehicle bearing an Assam registration number was stopped for verification after security personnel noticed suspicious features, including a VIP flag post and the absence of an escort vehicle typically associated with senior military officers.
During the inspection, officers discovered that the vehicle displayed symbols resembling those used by a Brigadier in the Indian Army. Investigators also recovered a nameplate carrying the words “ARMY” and “MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,” raising further suspicion about the authenticity of the vehicle’s credentials.
A detailed search led to the recovery of 17 packets of suspected opium weighing approximately 15.35 kilograms. The contraband was allegedly concealed in a specially built compartment beneath the rear right door of the vehicle.
The driver, identified as 45-year-old Tarkeshwar Singh from Assam’s Tinsukia district, was taken into custody on the spot. Preliminary investigations revealed that neither the vehicle nor the accused had any connection with the Indian Army.
Police officials said the fake military insignia and nameplates were allegedly being used to avoid security checks and facilitate movement across checkpoints.
Apart from the suspected narcotics, authorities seized the vehicle, its registration plate, two mobile phones, ₹5,000 in cash, a PAN card, and a voter identity card from the accused. The seizure and arrest were carried out in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, ensuring compliance with legal procedures.
A case has been registered at Senapati Police Station under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway to determine the source and intended destination of the seized contraband, as well as any possible links to a larger drug trafficking network.
