Port Blair, Sept. 11: In a major operation highlighting the unwavering commitment to the war on drugs, South Andaman District Police seized 2.075 kg of heroin. The operation was led by team of PS Bambooflat ably led by DySP Brij Mohan Meena and SHO Insp Rizwan Hasan. The seized contraband, with an estimated international market value exceeding ₹14 crores, led to the arrest of seven individuals. This marks the first time such a substantial quantity of heroin has been confiscated in the region.

The operation was initiated based on confidential information. On 24/08/2024, secret information was received regarding the matter and information shared with senior officers. Acting on the information, the police team intercepted one Athish Kumar S/o Late Jaswant Lall (42) yrs Pvt Contractor R/o Prothrapur and a total of 1.295 kg of Heroin was recovered & seized from his possession and this resulted in the arrest of Athish Kumar. Upon his arrest, a case was registered under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, at PS Bambooflat and investigation of the case was entrusted to SI Manoj Lal of PS Bambooflat.

In an effort to bust the entire racket, further investigation revealed a broader network of individuals involved in the illicit drug trade. Athish Kumar’s revelation led to the identification and arrest of three additional suspects: 1) Krishna Kumar Yadav (46), LGC, Andaman Labour Force Office, residing in Bhatubasti, 2) Vincent Lakra (40), a teacher with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, posted in Mayabunder and 3) Shaiju P. Thomas (45), Deck Petty Officer with DSS, residing in Garacharma.

The investigation uncovered that the seized heroin had been transported from Campbell Bay to Port Blair by Vincent Lakra, with the transit facilitated by Krishna Kumar Yadav. Further, Saiju P. Thomas & Athish Kumar retained some packets of contraband in Port Blair and sent two packets of heroin to Kolkata with plans to dispose it off at a lucrative price in Mainland. When they failed to sell it off on their visit to Kolkata, they kept it in a sealed cover with one of their friend in Kolkata. They misled him by saying that the sealed cover contains hard disk and they will collect it whenever they come back to Kolkata. Based on this, SI Samiran Mridha was deputed to Kolkata, where he collaborated with SI Manish Narayan, who was in Kolkata on duty, and successfully seized 780 gms heroine.

Subsequent interrogations revealed the involvement of two more individuals namely 1) Chinnaiah (40), DRM (driver in Campbell Bay), who facilitated the transportation of the heroin and 2) Vikram Singh Gill (30), an accountant in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, residing at Shadipur, who had purchased heroin from Vincent Lakra. Chinnaiah revealed that the heroin had initially been found drifting ashore by Cosmas Lakra (53), a DRM in the Campbell Bay Panchayat. Cosmas Lakra who has also been arrested in the case, had handed over the contraband to Vincent, marking the start of the illegal supply chain that was ultimately busted by the police.

This large-scale seizure of heroin marks a significant victory for law enforcement in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, disrupting a well-organized drug trafficking network that spanned multiple regions and involved multiple actors from suppliers to distributors.

The investigation team consisted of SDPO Bambooflat, Shri. Brij Mohan, SHO Bambooflat Insp Rizwan Hasan and included SI Manoj Lal, SI Samiran Mridha, HC Zubair, PC Suresh Kumar, PC A. Ali, LPC Naw Seesa, driver Constable M. Mohd. Basheer of PS Bambooflat.

The entire operation was carried out under the leadership of Smti Niharika Bhatt, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District with the supervision of Smti Sindhu Pillai, IPS, IGP (L&O) and Smti Varsha Sharma, IPS, DIGP (L&O) and overall guidance of Shri Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, IPS, Director General of Police, A&N Islands.

Authorities continue to urge the public to report any suspicious activity related to drugs or other illegal activities. Information can be shared via the following contact numbers: 112, 258411 or 232100. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.