Assam Rifles seize ₹2 crore meth tablets in Tripura, one arrested
Synopsis
Assam Rifles, ARFIU, and Customs jointly busted a suspected Yaba tablet peddler in Mohanpur, West Tripura, recovering nearly 2 kg of methamphetamine worth over ₹2 crore — part of a wider crackdown that also netted 841 kg of ganja worth ₹4.24 crore in Khowai last week, exposing the scale of narcotics trafficking through this border state.
Key Takeaways
Assam Rifles , ARFIU , and Customs Department, Agartala jointly seized 1.994 kg of Yaba (methamphetamine) tablets worth over ₹2 crore in Mohanpur, West Tripura on 12 October 2026 .
One suspected drug peddler — a resident of Mohanpur — was arrested; his motorcycle was also seized.
The arrested person and contraband were handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala for further investigation.
In separate operations last week in Khowai district , Assam Rifles and Customs seized 841 kg of ganja worth approximately ₹4.24 crore .
Dry ganja produced in Tripura is reportedly smuggled to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh , with consignments intercepted from trucks, vehicles, and trains.
Yaba tablets — a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine — are banned in India .
The Assam Rifles have seized 1.994 kg of methamphetamine tablets worth over ₹2 crore and arrested a suspected drug peddler in Mohanpur, West Tripura District, officials confirmed on Monday, 12 October 2026. The operation, conducted jointly with the Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit (ARFIU) and the Customs Department, Agartala, marks another significant strike against the narcotics supply chain running through Tripura.
How the Operation Unfolded
According to a defence spokesperson, the joint team apprehended a suspected drug peddler — a resident of Mohanpur — and recovered the contraband at the same location. A two-wheeler was also seized from the individual. The arrested person, the recovered Yaba tablets, and the motorcycle were subsequently handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala, for further investigation.
What Are Yaba Tablets
The seized contraband — commonly referred to as Yaba or 'party tablets' — contains a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and is also colloquially known as the 'crazy drug'. The substance is banned in India due to its highly addictive properties and the severe public health risks it poses, particularly among young users.
Wider Anti-Narcotics Drive in Tripura
The Yaba seizure is part of a broader crackdown in the state. The Assam Rifles, in coordination with Customs officials, conducted two separate operations last week in Khowai district, seizing 841 kg of ganja (marijuana) valued at approximately ₹4.24 crore. This comes amid an ongoing pattern of multi-agency operations targeting illicit drug flows in the region.
Police officials note that the Tripura State Rifles (TSR), state police, and other security forces routinely destroy illicit ganja cultivation across the state — especially in Sepahijala district, which shares a border with Bangladesh. Notably, locally produced dry ganja is reportedly not consumed within Tripura; instead, it is smuggled to states such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where it fetches significantly higher prices. According to officials, consignments are frequently intercepted from trucks, small vehicles, and passenger trains during transit.
Assam Rifles' Commitment to Drug-Free Tripura
In a statement, the Assam Rifles reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking through coordinated operations with law enforcement agencies, describing its goal as contributing to a drug-free society. The paramilitary force has emerged as a key player in Tripura's counter-narcotics efforts, given the state's porous international border and its position on established smuggling routes from Myanmar into the Indian mainland.
Further investigation into the Mohanpur arrest is ongoing under the Customs Department. Authorities have not ruled out wider network links, and the case is expected to shed light on the local distribution chain for Yaba tablets in the region.
Point of View
And Yaba tablets — once a niche problem — are now regularly showing up in West Tripura in quantities that suggest organised distribution, not lone peddlers. The 841 kg ganja bust in Khowai just days earlier underlines that multiple narcotics streams are active simultaneously. The real question is whether these interceptions are disrupting networks or merely taxing them at the margins — and whether the intelligence architecture is strong enough to move from catching couriers to dismantling supply chains.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized by Assam Rifles in Tripura on 12 October 2026?
Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with ARFIU and the Customs Department, seized 1.994 kg of Yaba (methamphetamine) tablets worth over ₹2 crore in Mohanpur, West Tripura. One suspected drug peddler and his motorcycle were also apprehended.
What are Yaba tablets and why are they banned in India?
Yaba tablets are a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, also called 'party tablets' or the 'crazy drug'. They are banned in India due to their highly addictive nature and serious public health risks, particularly among young people.
Who is handling further investigation into the Tripura drug arrest?
The arrested individual, the seized Yaba tablets, and the motorcycle have been handed over to the Customs Department, Agartala, which is conducting further investigation into the case.
Were there other drug seizures in Tripura around the same time?
Yes. In two separate operations last week in Khowai district, Assam Rifles and Customs officials seized 841 kg of ganja (marijuana) worth approximately ₹4.24 crore, reflecting an intensified crackdown across the state.
Why is Tripura a hotspot for drug trafficking?
Tripura's geographic position — bordering Bangladesh and located on smuggling routes from Myanmar — makes it a key transit point. Locally produced ganja is reportedly smuggled to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, while Yaba tablets flow in from across the border, making multi-agency enforcement especially challenging.
