Aizawl/Imphal, Sep 18 (NationPress) In a significant operation, security forces have confiscated drugs valued at more than Rs 143 crore and apprehended three suspects in Mizoram and Manipur within the last 24 hours, officials reported on Thursday.

A defense spokesperson indicated that in a decisive blow against cross-border narcotics trafficking, the Assam Rifles, acting on precise intelligence, executed a search operation on Wednesday night close to Zote village in the Champhai District of Mizoram, which shares an unfenced border with Myanmar.

During this operation, troops intercepted an individual suspected of smuggling drugs. Upon confrontation, the person abandoned the contraband and fled into the dense forest, utilizing the terrain to escape. A thorough search of the area resulted in the seizure of 34.218 kg of highly addictive and illegal methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 102.65 crore.

The spokesperson added that in a separate operation, the Assam Rifles seized 12 grams of heroin valued at approximately Rs 8.4 lakh in Zemabawk of Aizawl district on Wednesday night.

Following specific intelligence regarding narcotics trafficking, a joint operation by the Assam Rifles and the Territorial Army was initiated in the Zemabawk area, resulting in the apprehension of one suspected drug dealer.

During the search, 12 grams of heroin were found on the individual, who was identified as Lalchchuanmawia (25), a resident of Zote in Champhai District.

The confiscated drugs, along with the detained individual, have been handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department in Aizawl for further investigation. This operation highlights the Assam Rifles’ commitment to combating the narcotics trade along the India-Myanmar border, while also protecting the youth of the nation from the drug epidemic, as stated by the Assam Rifles.

In Manipur, two suspected drug smugglers were arrested, and large quantities of brown sugar and methamphetamine tablets worth approximately Rs 40 crore were seized.

A police official in Imphal reported that these seizures and arrests occurred in the Tengnoupal district, which borders Myanmar, during two distinct operations carried out in the last 24 hours.

In the first operation, security forces stopped a van at the Naka Check Post in the Tengnoupal police station area.

The driver, Md Nousad (21), a resident of Kakching district, was arrested. About 50 packets of methamphetamine tablets weighing 10.8 kg, the van, and a mobile phone were confiscated from him, with the estimated value of the drugs exceeding Rs 30 crore. Shortly after, another van was intercepted at the same checkpoint.

The driver, Hengougin Haokip (23), a resident of Kangpokpi district, was taken into custody. He had 11 soap cases containing 125 grams of brown sugar, along with the vehicle and a mobile phone. The estimated value of these drugs is over Rs 10 crore.

Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles seized heroin valued at approximately Rs 20.10 crore in Mizoram.

The defense spokesperson stated that based on specific intelligence regarding narcotics trafficking, an operation was executed on Tuesday night in the Thingluang Kai area of the Melbuk Road in Champhai district, resulting in the seizure of 2.462 kg of heroin worth Rs 20.10 crore.

This latest drug seizure marks the largest haul of narcotics since the Mizoram government launched a four-month-long special campaign and anti-drug operation on September 1 to combat the illegal drug trade.

A variety of drugs, particularly highly addictive methamphetamine tablets and heroin, along with different types of contraband, including exotic animals, are frequently trafficked through six districts in Mizoram—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. These districts share a total of 510 km of unfenced border with Myanmar. From Mizoram, these drugs are transported to various regions across the country and abroad, including Bangladesh, via Assam and Tripura.