Heroin haul in hills

Darjeeling, Sept.11: Darjeeling police today arrested an alleged drug supplier with what they suspect to be a kilogram of heroin.

Kunal Aggarwal, the superintendent of police of Darjeeling, said: “We had prior information that Pemba Tamang, 40, was trying to sell drugs. Our team intercepted him near Ghoom railway station around 4pm today and found a kilogram of heroin, which we are told is worth at least Rs 75 lakh.”

Tamang, a resident of Magarjung village near Sukhiapokhri, was staying in a rented place at Sonada, about 25km from Darjeeling. He was a small-time contractor in Sikkim, police said.

The haul is considered the largest in recent years. Darjeeling police have arrested at least eight drug peddlers this year. It is, however, not yet known whether Tamang was involved in supplying drugs to local peddlers.

Aggarwal said Tamang told the police that he had brought the drugs from a “international border” and was trying to send it to Nepal.