Assam Rifles, in coordination with multiple agencies, conducted three major anti-smuggling operations across Mizoram and seized foreign cigarettes and methamphetamine tablets collectively valued at ₹35.71 crore, apprehending four individuals in the process, officials confirmed on Friday, 29 May. The operations targeted active smuggling corridors along the India-Myanmar border, one of Northeast India's most porous contraband routes.

Meth Haul in Lawngtlai

The largest of the three operations was carried out in Lawngtlai district in southern Mizoram, where Assam Rifles troops, operating jointly with the Excise and Narcotics Department, intercepted two suspected drug peddlers at the IOCL Petrol Pump in Lawngtlai. Acting on specific intelligence about contraband in transit, troops tracked the suspects using wireless units before moving in for a search.

The search uncovered one lakh methamphetamine tablets weighing 9.807 kg and valued at over ₹30 crore. Notably, the tablets had been concealed inside a server hardware apparatus — a method that points to increasingly sophisticated smuggling techniques. Both individuals and the recovered contraband were handed over to the Assistant Commissioner, Excise and Narcotics, Lawngtlai, for further investigation.

Foreign Cigarette Seizures in Aizawl and Champhai

In a second operation in the Seling area of Aizawl district, Assam Rifles troops, working with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), intercepted a truck loaded with illegally transported foreign cigarettes. The accused, identified as Larintluanga (25), a resident of Dilkawn village in Champhai district, was found carrying 218 cartons of foreign cigarettes — comprising 48 cartons of Oris, 66 cartons of Patron, and 104 cartons of Win cigarettes — valued at approximately ₹5.23 crore. The individual, the vehicle, and the seized goods were handed over to the DRI for legal action.

A third operation along the Aizawl road areas of Champhai district, conducted jointly with Mizoram Police, led to the recovery of 20 cases of illegal foreign-origin cigarettes worth approximately ₹48 lakh. One person was apprehended and, along with the seized items, handed over to the Legal Metrology Department in Champhai.

The Myanmar Border Corridor

Mizoram shares a 510-km border with Myanmar's Chin State across six districts — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. The largely unfenced frontier, combined with mountainous terrain, has made the state a significant drug trafficking corridor in Northeast India. The most commonly smuggled narcotics from Myanmar include methamphetamine tablets — known locally as Yaba or 'party tablets' — and heroin. Yaba, often called the 'crazy drug', is a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, and is strictly prohibited in India.

What Officials Said

According to an official statement, 'These successful operations highlight the unwavering commitment and synergy between Assam Rifles and sister agencies in combating illegal smuggling activities in Mizoram. The force remains steadfast in its efforts towards ensuring security along the Indo-Myanmar border and maintaining peace and stability in the region.'

Officials added that the seizures underscore a broader push to disrupt the well-established smuggling networks that exploit Mizoram's border geography. With enforcement agencies increasingly relying on real-time intelligence sharing, similar joint operations are expected to continue.