Police on mission to dismantle entire drug networks, says Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland police is focusing on in-depth investigations into the intricate networks of drug operations and going beyond merely apprehending drug peddlers and traffickers, with an aim to dismantle the entire network, said Director General of Police (DGP), Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, on Saturday.

He was addressing the media in the Rhododendron Hall, Chümoukedima Police Complex, after unveiling the Police Memorial at the NAP Training Centre Complex in Chümoukedima.

The war against drugs has seen a reasonable success in Nagaland, Sharma said, adding that the law enforcement agency is primarily focused on reducing supply by disrupting the networks of drug traffickers, suppliers and addicts.

They also play a role in de-addiction but it is rather limited, he admitted.

The police chief disclosed that they have successfully apprehended criminals from Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar over the past three months and are currently pursuing individuals who are believed to be located in various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan.

‘International connections concerning’

One of the suspects revealed involvement in cross-border trafficking of drugs, said Sharma, adding that the origin of one particular drug consignment traced to China, then to the Netherlands before eventually reaching Manipur and then smuggled into Nagaland and other regions.

Terming the international connections in the crime as ‘very concerning’, he disclosed the criminals’ attempt to utilise Bitcoin and other crypto currencies, adding that they are trying to gather more information on these crypto currencies.

He said the police have strong leads indicating that drugs were indeed being trafficked directly from Myanmar to Nagaland and Manipur; they are still in the process of determining the precise number of individuals involved in this illicit activity.

SIM card seller, constable arrested

Citing two instances where traffickers acquired SIM cards using false identities, the DGP cautioned the SIM card sellers to be vigilant.

The police had arrested one person for selling SIM cards to drug traffickers, he added.

Last month, the police apprehended a constable from the IR battalion for involvement in drug trafficking, while another suspect is currently under departmental investigation, he went on to day.

Cases filed under NDPS Act in state

IGP (CID) Vikram Khalate, said that the Nagaland police have filed a total of 48 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between December 1, 2023 and March 15, 2024.

Out of these cases, 122 individuals were arrested, while 12 accused were detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act, 1988.

He informed that the police have seized approximately 475 kg of ganja, 3 kg of heroin, 366 gram of brown sugar, more than 11,000 tablets and capsules of banned substances, and 2468 bottles of cough syrup during the period.

10 cases registered in Dimapur

Commissioner of Police Dimapur, Kevithuto Sophie informed that a total of 10 cases were registered in Dimapur during the period, arresting 40 persons comprising 30 males and 10 females.

About 80% of the drug peddlers arrested were not from Nagaland state, he said, adding that none of the individuals arrested from Dimapur area were from the state.

The police officer informed that have seized 1823.5 gram of heroin-related drugs, thousands of banned tablets and 10 bottles of cough syrup, valued at around INR 1, 26, 23420.

On commemorating fallen heroes

Speaking during the unveiling of the Police Memorial, Rupin Sharma expressed the need to have a permanent and distinguished structure to commemorate the fallen heroes, while requesting Police department to shortlist some locations to have a centralised Police Commemoration Day for the state.

He also proposed the inscription of martyrs’ names and documentation of their heroic acts, which can be utilised as case studies for training purposes.

While calling for reorientation within the force, particularly in light of three new laws being enacted by the Parliament, the police chief urged the personnel to approach their training with utmost seriousness.

He also paid homage to the fallen officers by laying a wreath at the newly unveiled memorial, while Commandant of NAPTC, Ben Longkumer delivered a short speech.