The Assam Rifles have seized narcotics worth approximately ₹46.25 crore across two separate operations in southern Assam and Mizoram, arresting five drug peddlers, officials confirmed on Sunday, 1 November. The combined haul — totalling 27.813 kg of methamphetamine — marks one of the largest drug seizures in the region in recent months.

The Cachar District Operation

In the larger of the two operations, the Assam Rifles, in a joint action with the Silchar-based Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), intercepted a consignment of 20 kg of crystal methamphetamine at Dholai Bazar in Cachar district of southern Assam. The contraband, packed in 20 packets, carries an estimated international market value of ₹40 crore and is considered one of the biggest crystal methamphetamine recoveries in the region.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team intercepted the consignment and apprehended three individuals allegedly involved in its transportation. Authorities also recovered three mobile phones and two vehicles. A preliminary assessment reportedly indicated the consignment had originated in neighbouring Mizoram and was being routed through Silchar, which was allegedly being used as a transit hub for onward movement to mainland India. All three arrested persons, along with the seized contraband and vehicles, were handed over to the DRI, Silchar, for further investigation under applicable law.

The Aizawl District Operation

In a separate action in Mizoram, the Assam Rifles — acting on intelligence inputs provided by sister agencies — recovered 7.813 kg of methamphetamine tablets, valued at approximately ₹6.25 crore, from Ramthar North in Aizawl district. Two persons were apprehended in this operation. The recovered narcotics and the arrested individuals were handed over to the Mizoram Police for legal proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

What Are Yaba Tablets

The methamphetamine tablets recovered are commonly known as Yaba or 'party tablets' — a highly addictive synthetic drug containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, also referred to as the 'crazy drug'. Banned in India, Yaba continues to rank among the most frequently smuggled narcotics along the India-Myanmar border, flooding into the Northeast through porous crossings.

Northeast India's Drug Corridor Problem

Mizoram and Manipur have increasingly emerged as major trafficking corridors, largely owing to their proximity to the Golden Triangle — one of the world's largest illicit narcotics-producing regions — and their shared 910-km international border with Myanmar. Specifically, six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur border Myanmar, making both states structurally vulnerable to cross-border smuggling. This comes amid heightened instability inside Myanmar, which critics argue has emboldened trafficking networks and increased supply pressure on India's northeastern frontier.

What the Assam Rifles Said

An official statement from the defence establishment said the two operations 'reflect the Assam Rifles' continued commitment to combating drug trafficking and safeguarding the youth and communities of Mizoram through effective intelligence-sharing and coordination among various enforcement agencies.' The statement added that the seizures 'underscore the effectiveness of precise intelligence inputs, technical surveillance and coordinated operations' with other law enforcement bodies. Investigations in both cases are ongoing, with further arrests not ruled out.