Army Colonel, five others arrested in Manipur drugs haul

An Army Colonel posted as the Defence PRO in Imphal and five others were arrested by the Manipur police on Sunday for allegedly ferrying drugs, estimated to be worth between Rs 15-30 crore, to the Indo-Myanmar border.

Col Ajay Choudhury, a Territorial Army sepoy posted under him, an Indigo Airlines associate manager and three others have been accused of ferrying pseudoephedrine, used for manufacturing heroin, in three vehicles, including the Colonel's official vehicle. Police suspect the Colonel had ferried drugs at least four times in the past.

"We have estimated that the drugs are worth between Rs 15-30 crore in the international market. We caught three vehicles carrying these drugs at Pallel. The three civilians were Kukis and seem to be involved in the drug racket," said Manipur DGP Y Joykumar Singh.

"They seem to have been involved in a number of such operations before. Col Choudhury has been denying his involvement, but one of the cars carrying the drugs was alloted to him by the Army. The consignment was on its way to Moreh, the Indo-Myanmar border town," said Singh. "We had received a tip-off that a big consignment of drugs was on its way to Moreh," he added.

In New Delhi, officials said strict action will be taken if the Colonel is found guilty.

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