Drugs set afire in interior Manipur

Illegal drugs and nicotine containing cough syrup worth at least Rs two crore were set afire by locals after the vehicle carrying the drugs hit some people in interior Thoubal district of Manipur.

However, the smugglers who brought them managed to escape, officials said today.

Two brothers identified as Md Apikcha and Md Kadir were carrying the drugs and cough syrup for allegedly smuggling it to neighbouring Myanmar, they said.

Their vehicle hit some passers-by in the road in Thoubal district yesterday after which they fled leaving the vehicle even as the locals chased them.

The locals then checked the vehicle and found illegal drugs in several boxes, they said, adding that drugs were set afire by the public.
 

Going by the number of boxes and contents in some particular boxes, police estimate that the drugs may be worth about Rs two crore.

Authorities have seized illegal drugs worth crores of rupees on various occasions in the past three months and arrested 15 people in connection with drug trafficking during the said period.