Udupi: Excise Sleuths in Major Operation Seize Heroine worth Rs 1 Crore, nab 2 Accused

By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 20 Apr 2013: The district excise department in a major operation seized heroine worth Rs 1 crore that was meant for supplying to students at Manipal and arrested 2 persons here on Thursday April 18.

 

It’s the first ever operation of excise department in the history of Udupi to recover contraband of heroine worth over Rs 1 crore.

 

The arrested has been identified as twenty-nine-year-old Sudhir Hegde Karvikeri, a native of Kundapur taluk, the broker thirty-nine-year-old Divakar Narayan Devadiga, a native of Shirali in Uttar Kannada.  The kingpin Johnson Melvyn Lewis, a native of Irody village in Kundapur taluk and settled in Bangalore managed to escape.

 

 

 

‘The heroine was meant for supply to Gokarna, Manipal and Goa,’ said excise deputy commissioner George Pinto.

 

Addressing the media persons here on Friday April 19, Pinto said that excise deputy commissioner Shubada C Nayak led the raid in a hotel located in the outskirts of Kundapur town and seized the heroine that was of 100 percent purity, which was tested with ultra modern gadgets, said Pinto.

 

The picture of kingpin Johnson Lewis is available and a manhunt has been laid to nab him through Bangalore police. The conversation between the Johnson and one of the accused was recorded wherein Johnson confessed that he is ready to supply further 5 kilograms of heroin.  The video recording of entire operation was done, added Pinto.

 

Pinto expressed deep concern over suspicious death of students that are occurring in the neighbourhood of Manipal University.  He also urged the general public to co-operate with excise department in curbing the evil, urged Pinto.

 

Pinto commended the role of Shubada Nayak, deputy inspector D N Manya, Shankar Hemmady, Sudakar, Raviraj, K Shankar, Hanumant Kuri, Sudhakar Godda and Prakash in recovering the major haul of heroine and nabbing the accused.