Shillong, July 12: In a big catch, West Jaintia Hills police on Tuesday seized 1168 kgs of ganja worth over Rs 3 crore from a container truck even as two persons managed to flee from the spot.

The incident took place at Mookyndur check point when the naka party of Ummulong beat house were conducting routine vehicle checking during the wee hours today and detected one container truck (RJ.10 GB 1424) approaching from Jowai side and was signaled to slow down and stop. 

Instead, the vehicle stopped at a distance before the checkpoint and two persons were seen alighting from the vehicle and fleeing from the spot and leaving the said vehicle behind. It aroused the suspicion of the duty personnel and immediately a hot pursuit was made to a certain extent but taking advantage of the darkness, the duo managed to disappear from the area, SP Bikram D Marak said.

Accordingly, the vehicle was checked at around 1:30 am and on entering the driver’s cabin, very strong odour of ganja/marijuana was emitting from the cargo area of the said vehicle.

Hence, ANTF was informed and by following the laid down procedures, thorough search of the vehicle was made in presence of independent witnesses and recovered ganja/marijuana packed in 80 packets of rectangular shape covered by tightly wrapped brown tape with a total weight of 1168.182 kgs which accordingly the market value worth Rs 3.5 crores, he said.

A case has been registered and investigation is on.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Police, Meghalaya has taken cognizance of the recovery and has assured to reward all police personnel on duty for their alertness during wee hours and thereby managed to stall a huge consignment of ganja/marijuana.