“Contraband Cigarette Bust on National Highway 39: Authorities Seize Illicit Haul and Detain Three Suspects”

On January 12, 2024, while carrying out standard checkpoint duties on National Highway 39 near the State Bank of India’s Khatkhati branch, at approximately 6:30 AM, two vehicles with registration numbers UP78CN5074 and UK04CC0262 were stopped as they traveled from Dimapur towards Bokajan.

Upon inspection, authorities discovered a hidden compartment within the vehicles containing 50 cartons, which held a total of 1254 packets of Esse Light Cigarettes and 1444 packets of Esse Light Gold Cigarettes.

Consequently, three individuals were detained: Md Anwar Ali, son of Ashraf Ali from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh; Md Jabed Ali, son of Md Take, residing at New Basti Halwani, Police Station Balpulpara, Nainital; and Md Fahim, son of Md Salim, from Mohalla Masjid Kohna, Uttar Pradesh. A legal case is being initiated in relation to this incident.