In a significant breakthrough, the Meghalaya Police successfully thwarted a major drug trafficking operation on the evening of June 30, 2023 (Friday) and recovered drugs worth Rs 5 crore, making it one of the biggest hauls in the state.
Acting on credible intelligence received from a reliable source, Ri Bhoi police discovered that three individuals, identified as Ronand Kyndiah, Daniel Syiem, and Thokchom Naba Singh, had convened at a farmhouse in Lumkeni village, Umran, Ri Bhoi, to negotiate a substantial consignment of drugs.
Responding swiftly to the information, police promptly set up a checkpoint (known as a “naka”), at the Umsning Bypass junction on NH6, collaborating with the available staff from the Umsning Police Station. During the operation, a black Alto with registration number ML05K 0314 was intercepted, carrying two passengers.
Upon questioning, the individuals identified themselves as Ronand Kyndiah and Daniel Syiem from Shillong. However, they remained reluctant to disclose the exact location of the drugs. Consequently, they were detained for further interrogation to extract vital information about the illicit substances.
During the subsequent investigation, Ronand Kyndiah and Daniel Syiem revealed that the third suspect, Naba Singh, who had supplied the drugs to them, was en-route to Guwahati. In response, another checkpoint was established near the Byrnihat Outpost, leading to the successful detainment of Naba Singh.
Further questioning of all the suspects confirmed that the drugs were concealed within a farmhouse located in Lumkeni Village, Umran. Consequently, on July 1, 2023, the Ri Bhoi Police, in collaboration with the K9 Dog Squad from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), conducted a thorough search of the identified farmhouse.
During the search, the sniffer dogs detected an iron box suspected to contain contraband substances. Upon opening the box, police recovered 70 soap boxes filled with an orange powder, which tested positive for heroin. The estimated market value of the seized heroin amounts to a staggering Rs. 5 crores.
In addition to the drugs, police officials also seized several items in connection to the case. These include a Maruti Alto car with registration number ML05K 0314 and four mobile phones.
The three suspects have been identified as Ronand Kyndiah, a resident of Sngithiang, Lower Mawprem, Shillong, EKH District; Daniel Syiem, a resident of Lower Mawprem, Shillong EKH; and Thokchom Naba Singh, a resident of Village Kangmong, Imphal West, Manipur.
The Meghalaya Police, under the guidance of the Director General of Police and in accordance with the directions of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, has intensified its efforts to combat the drug menace and ensure a drug-free society.
Traffickers plan to torment society by drugs but our govt is firm to thwart their evil designs. In an intensive operation @RibhoiPolice nabbed 3 notorious traffickers and seized Heroin worth ₹5Crore &Alto car at Lumkeni with the help of K9 squad.Kudos to team. @PMOIndia… pic.twitter.com/rJE1BNdwrH
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 1, 2023
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma also took to twitter to congratulate the police officials on their feat and restress Government’s commitment to remove the ‘evil’ of drug trafficking from the State. He tweeted: “Traffickers plan to torment society by drugs but our govt is firm to thwart their evil designs. In an intensive operation @RibhoiPolice nabbed 3 notorious traffickers and seized Heroin worth ₹5Crore &Alto car at Lumkeni with the help of K9 squad. Kudos to team.”
