Drugs for Guns: Zunheboto drug bust leads to capture of firearms

Pain-relievers, rum, pistol and rifles

Morung Express News
Zunheboto/Dimapur | July 1

The investigation into the June 29 drug catch in Zunheboto led the police to uncovering a suspected drugs-for-arms deal. Following the interception of the drugs and two individuals, who were transporting the contraband in a Scorpio, the investigation trail led to a third individual from whom two illegal firearms were recovered. 

The Zunheboto police informed that all the three accused persons were in custody. 

The capture of the drugs and weapons were the result of a special operation conducted by the Zunheboto Police Station in coordination with the Special Operations Team of the district police in the wee hours of June 29 on the Zunheboto to Chakabama road. During the operation, one Mahindra Scorpio was intercepted near the Woodland Higher Secondary School, Amiphoto, resulting in the detection of a restricted pharmaceutical medicine, IMFL, a pistol and cash.  On the front and rear windshields of the vehicle were pasted the badge of the Nagaland Police bearing the ‘Security, Service, Sacrifice’ motto. 

As told to The Morung Express, the contrabands included 11,403 capsules of a pain-relieving drug sold as “Sampex +,” 5 cases of McDowell rum, 12 cans of Kingfisher beer, and one .32 mm calibre pistol with 12 rounds. The seized cash amounted to Rs 1,75,000. 

According to the police, the individual on the wheel, identified as Toka Awomi, claimed ownership of the contrabands, and that the vehicle belonged to the other individual, reportedly his father, named in the police FIR as Zhetovi Awomi. Both claimed residence in 3rd Mile, Dimapur. 

As told to police interrogators, they were to deliver the drugs to one Tokato Yeptho in exchange for firearms. Yeptho was subsequently captured the same day from Ngozubo village. From his house, the police recovered two .22 mm calibre magazine-fed rifles. One was said to be of Myanmar-make. 

The Zunheboto police have registered a case under the Arms Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (Indian Justice Code), 2023. Further investigation was on. 

As per other reliable sources, one of the accused, Zhetovi Awomi, was reportedly a former cop, who went on to join one of the Naga Political Groups (NPG). Initially, after the incident hit social media, it was reported that Zhetovi and Toka claimed they were both members of the GPRN/NSCN (Kitovi). 

The GPRN/NSCN (Kitovi) however refuted this. The said NPG’s Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), when contacted, stated that the duo was not theirs, officially.  

The duo had recently defected from the NSCN/GPRN (Isak) to allegedly join the GPRN/NSCN (Kitovi). The latter’s MIP, citing confirmation from the higher-ups, maintained that the duo was not members yet. “It’s confirmed that they are not our members yet. If they were, then strict action would have been taken,” said the MIP functionary.