Assam Police seize 30,000 Yaba tablets worth ₹3 crore in Sribhumi bust
Synopsis
Assam Police seized 30,000 Yaba tablets worth ₹3 crore and arrested three suspects in Sribhumi — the latest strike along the Barak Valley corridor, a known conduit for drugs flowing in from Manipur and Mizoram. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's sharp public post on X signals that the crackdown is as much a political statement as a law enforcement operation.
Key Takeaways
Assam Police seized 30,000 Yaba tablets worth approximately ₹3 crore in Sribhumi district on 10 July .
Three persons were arrested in connection with the narcotics haul; investigations are ongoing to identify the broader network.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the operation on X , using the hashtag #AssamAgainstDrugs .
The Barak Valley in southern Assam is a known transit corridor for narcotics entering from Manipur and Mizoram .
Yaba is a synthetic drug combining methamphetamine and caffeine , widely trafficked across Northeast India's borders.
The Sarma government has been running intensified anti-narcotics operations across Assam since 2021 .
Assam Police intercepted a consignment of 30,000 Yaba tablets worth approximately ₹3 crore in the Sribhumi district on Friday, 10 July, arresting three persons allegedly involved in the smuggling racket. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma publicly commended the operation, reinforcing the state government's sustained crackdown under the #AssamAgainstDrugs campaign.
The Seizure
According to officials, the Yaba tablets were intercepted during a targeted police operation in Sribhumi district. The three individuals taken into custody are suspected of being part of a broader trafficking network. Police have launched further investigations to trace the origin of the consignment and map the full supply chain behind the haul.
What the Chief Minister Said
Sarma took to X to praise the police action with a pointed message. 'Every shipment has a destination, this one was the police station. Kudos to @sribhumipolice for seizing 30,000 Yaba tablets worth approx ₹3 cr and apprehending three accused,' he posted, also using the hashtag #AssamAgainstDrugs — a label that has become central to the government's public anti-narcotics messaging.
The Barak Valley Trafficking Corridor
The Barak Valley region in southern Assam has long been identified as a key transit corridor for narcotics, given its interstate borders with Manipur and Mizoram. Investigators believe a significant volume of contraband is routed through this geography from neighbouring states before being distributed further. This strategic vulnerability has made the valley a recurring flashpoint in Assam's anti-drug operations.
Yaba — a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine widely known as the 'crazy drug' — is heavily trafficked across international and interstate borders in the Northeast. Its compact form makes it easier to conceal and move in bulk, complicating enforcement efforts.
Assam's Wider Anti-Drug Drive
The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government has intensified its war on narcotics since taking office in 2021, with law enforcement agencies conducting regular raids, publicly destroying seized contraband, and working to dismantle inter-state and cross-border trafficking networks. Senior police officials have stated that anti-narcotics operations will continue across vulnerable districts to prevent the circulation of psychotropic substances.
The Sribhumi bust is the latest in a series of major narcotics seizures reported from Assam in recent months, as security agencies tighten surveillance along key trafficking corridors. Whether the current arrests lead investigators to the wider network supplying the Barak Valley route will be the critical next step.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the Chief Minister's near-instant public post on X — a pattern that has made individual drug busts part of a continuous political narrative in Assam. The #AssamAgainstDrugs campaign has generated visible optics, yet the Barak Valley continues to surface repeatedly as an active corridor, raising questions about whether enforcement is disrupting networks or merely intercepting individual consignments. Three arrests in a ₹3 crore haul also invites scrutiny of how far up the supply chain investigations are actually reaching.
NationPress
10 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Assam Police drug bust in Sribhumi?
Assam Police seized 30,000 Yaba tablets valued at approximately ₹3 crore in the illicit market during an operation in Sribhumi district on 10 July . Three persons allegedly involved in the smuggling racket were also arrested.
What is Yaba and why is it trafficked in Northeast India?
Yaba is a synthetic drug combining methamphetamine and caffeine, commonly called the 'crazy drug.' Its compact, tablet form makes it easy to conceal, and Northeast India's porous interstate and international borders make it a preferred trafficking route for smugglers moving the drug from Myanmar and neighbouring states.
Why is the Barak Valley significant in drug trafficking?
The Barak Valley in southern Assam shares interstate borders with Manipur and Mizoram, making it a key transit corridor for narcotics. Investigators believe large quantities of drugs are routed through the valley from neighbouring states before onward distribution.
What has CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said about the drug bust?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the Sribhumi Police on X, posting: 'Every shipment has a destination, this one was the police station. Kudos to @sribhumipolice for seizing 30,000 Yaba tablets worth approx ₹3 cr and apprehending three accused.' He also used the hashtag #AssamAgainstDrugs.
How long has Assam been running its anti-drug campaign?
The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government has intensified anti-narcotics operations since assuming office in 2021, conducting regular raids, publicly destroying seized contraband, and working to dismantle inter-state and cross-border trafficking networks across the state.
