The Mizoram Police, in a series of coordinated operations conducted over two days, seized drugs, Myanmar-origin areca nuts, rare wildlife products, and other contraband collectively valued at approximately ₹4.21 crore, and arrested nine individuals — including two Myanmar nationals — officials confirmed on Thursday, 9 July. The multi-agency crackdown spanned several districts and involved the Champhai Police Special Task Force, the Aizawl District Special Branch, the Assam Rifles, and the Saitual Police.

Key Seizures and Arrests

In the most significant individual haul, the Champhai Police Special Task Force intercepted a Bolero vehicle heading toward Champhai, which shares a border with Myanmar. The vehicle, driven by Rajiv Hussein Laskar (26) and accompanied by Jinuk Uddin Laskar (30) — both residents of Silchar in Assam's Cachar district — was found concealing nine bags containing approximately 210 kg of suspected dehydrated manta ray or mobula gill plates. The consignment carries an estimated international black-market value of ₹2.30 crore and is believed to be among the largest such seizures in Mizoram's history. As the items are suspected to belong to species protected under wildlife laws, the contraband, the vehicle, and both accused were handed over to the Divisional Forest Officer, Champhai Forest Division, for scientific examination and further legal proceedings.

In a separate joint operation, the Aizawl District Special Branch (DSB) and the Assam Rifles recovered 1.955 kg of methamphetamine — a highly addictive substance — valued at approximately ₹1.60 crore, from Marcus Lalvenpuia (19), a resident of Mamit district.

Heroin Busts and Myanmar Nationals Held

Two additional operations targeted heroin trafficking in the Champhai district. Heroin worth around ₹15 lakh was seized from Zokhawthar, and two Myanmar nationals were arrested in connection with the case. In yet another operation, a Special Team of the Saitual Police intercepted a truck at the Kualmawi Check Gate during routine checking. The driver, Fulchand Ali Mondal (35), a resident of Assam's Dhubri district, attempted to flee but was apprehended after a brief chase. He was found in possession of 102 grams of suspected heroin concealed inside the vehicle in nine soap cases, with an estimated illicit market value of ₹20.40 lakh. Investigation is ongoing.

Myanmar Areca Nut Smuggling Also Intercepted

Separately, personnel at the Champhai Khankawn Police Check Gate seized 2,960 kg of dry areca nuts valued at approximately ₹10.36 lakh from a tank lorry during routine checking. The driver failed to produce valid transport documents, raising suspicion that the consignment had been illegally smuggled from Myanmar. The vehicle and contraband were subsequently handed over to the Customs Preventive Force in Champhai for further legal action.

Mizoram's Vulnerability as a Trafficking Corridor

Officials noted that Mizoram has increasingly emerged as a major drug and contraband trafficking corridor in the Northeast, largely due to its 510-km unfenced international border with Myanmar — a stretch that forms part of the notorious 'Golden Triangle', one of the world's largest illicit narcotics-producing regions. The state also shares a 318-km border with Bangladesh, compounding its exposure to cross-border smuggling of narcotics, wildlife products, and other contraband. This comes amid sustained pressure on law enforcement agencies across the Northeast to contain the flow of drugs originating in the Golden Triangle.

All seized narcotics were secured following prescribed legal formalities, and investigations across the multiple cases remain active. Further arrests are possible as authorities pursue leads from the ongoing probes.