Excise personnel manning Chumukedima check gate Wednesday seized two kilograms of opium worth around Rs. 6 lakh (International market).
The contraband was recovered from the possession of two women at around 10 a.m. The accused have been identified as Khune Poumai and Athe Chakhesang.
According to commissioner of excise, Maongwati Aier the consignment was meant to be smuggled to Delhi and Mumbai. The two have confessed that the opium was handed over to them by one person in Kohima.
Aier said that Wednesday’s haul was one of the biggest seizures by narcotic cell during the last two years.
Meanwhile, Aier said the seizure would boost morale of the narcotic cell at time when the excise department was demanding for change in the nomenclature from excise department to “department of excise and narcotic”.
It may be mentioned that the excise department had handed three-point charter of demands to reform the department to parliamentary secretary, T. Torechu on April 16.
The change for nomenclature of excise department to “department of excise and narcotic” was also included in the 3-point charter of demands.
With regard to modernization of the narcotic cell, the commissioner disclosed to media person that he would meet DG Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) at Delhi next week.
During his meeting with the DG, the commissioner said that he would also request the NCB to give handsome rewards to his boys for detecting those contraband substances.