Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 12 September 2024
In a major operation underscoring the unwavering commitment to the war on drugs, the South Andaman District Police seized 2.075 kg of heroin. The operation was led by a team from PS Bambooflat, ably headed by DySP Brij Mohan Meena and SHO Inspector Rizwan Hasan. The seized contraband, with an estimated international market value exceeding ₹14 crores, resulted in 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 received on 24/08/2024, which was immediately shared with senior officers. Acting on this information, the police intercepted Athish Kumar, son of the late Jaswant Lall (42), a private contractor residing in Prothrapur. A total of 1.295 kg of heroin was recovered and seized from his possession, leading to his arrest. A case was registered under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, at PS Bambooflat, and the investigation was entrusted to SI Manoj Lal.
In a bid to dismantle the entire drug network, further investigation revealed a broader syndicate involved in the illicit trade. Athish Kumar’s interrogation led to the identification and arrest of three more suspects: 1) Krishna Kumar Yadav (46), LGC at the Andaman Labour Force Office, residing in Bhatu Basti, 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 Krishna Kumar Yadav facilitating the transit. Additionally, Shaiju P. Thomas and Athish Kumar retained some packets of the contraband in Port Blair and sent two packets to Kolkata, with plans to sell them at a lucrative price on the mainland. When they failed to sell the heroin in Kolkata, they left it in a sealed cover with a friend, misleading him by claiming the package contained a hard disk, with plans to retrieve it later. Based on this information, SI Samiran Mridha was deputed to Kolkata, where he collaborated with SI Manish Narayan, who was already in Kolkata on duty, and successfully seized 780 grams of heroin.
Further interrogations revealed the involvement of two more individuals: 1) Chinnaiah (40), a driver in Campbell Bay, who facilitated the transportation of the heroin, and 2) Vikram Singh Gill (30), an accountant with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, residing in Shadipur, who had purchased heroin from Vincent Lakra. Chinnaiah disclosed that the heroin had initially been found drifting ashore by Cosmas Lakra (53), a driver with the Campbell Bay Panchayat. Cosmas Lakra, who has also been arrested, handed over the contraband to Vincent, triggering the illegal supply chain that was ultimately dismantled by the police.
This large-scale heroin seizure 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 a range of actors, from suppliers to distributors.
The investigation team comprised SDPO Bambooflat, Mr. Brij Mohan, SHO Bambooflat Inspector Rizwan Hasan, SI Manoj Lal, SI Samiran Mridha, HC Zubair, PC Suresh Kumar, PC A. Ali, LPC Naw Seesa, and Driver Constable M. Mohd. Basheer of PS Bambooflat. The entire operation was conducted under the leadership of Ms. Niharika Bhatt, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District, with the supervision of Ms. Sindhu Pillai, IPS, IGP (L&O), and Ms. Varsha Sharma, IPS, DIGP (L&O), under the overall guidance of Mr. Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, IPS, Director General of Police, A&N Islands.
Authorities continue to urge the public to report any suspicious activities related to drugs or other illegal actions. Information can be shared via the following contact numbers: 112, 258411, or 232100. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.