Kohima, May 23 -- In a crackdown on narcotics smuggling, personnel from the 78 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with officers of Police Station Sechu Zubza, recovered 14.312 kilograms of suspected opium at Sechu Zubza town of Kohima.

The contraband was discovered inside a Tata Winger (registration MN-06B-1350) travelling from Senapati in Manipur towards Dimapur. During routine checking, passengers were asked to disembark and open their luggage.

A passenger, identified as Dharam Singh from Ludhiana, Punjab, sought permission to relieve himself. Taking advantage of the situation, he attempted to flee towards the nearby hills but was swiftly pursued and apprehended by CRPF jawans after a 500-meter chase.

Upon be...