Drug racket busted, three held

Acting on a tip-off, the Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested one John Lalmingthanga when was he on way to deliver a consignment to his associates near a school in Janakpuri in west Delhi on Thursday last.

Lalmingthanga, police believe, was helping Khumanba, a top commander of the outlawed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, in financing his terror activities through investments made in narcotics trade.

Lalmingthanga had worked with Assam Rifles till he left the job in 2008 and shifted to Delhi and later took to selling narcotics.

After his arrest, police recovered over 100-kg of controlled substances pseudoephedrine in tablet form, about 70,000 strips of the same drug, packaging material and a large quantity of empty bubble packs.

The drugs were transported from Delhi to Manipur from where they were trafficked to countries like Myanmar and China, Sanjiv Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, said.

The drug is in high demand in the global market, he said.

Besides Lalmingthanga, police also took into custody two of his aides -- Ashem Danny Singh and Lalawmpuia -- after they conducted searches on a godown that was used a store house for hiding the drug.

Pseudoephedrine is a stimulant, but it is well known for shrinking swollen nasal mucous membranes, so it is often used as a decongestant. It reduces tissue hyperemia, edema, and nasal congestion commonly associated with colds or allergies.

The similarity in chemical structure to the amphetamines has made pseudoephedrine a sought-after chemical precursor in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine and methcathinone.