What Major Drug Bust Occurred in Tripura?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 1.60 lakh methamphetamine tablets seized.
- Operation conducted by Assam Rifles and DRI.
- Estimated value of the drugs: over Rs 16 crore.
- Driver arrested, investigation ongoing.
- Significant impact on drug trafficking efforts.
Agartala, Jan 25 (NationPress) In a significant crackdown, the Assam Rifles collaborated with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) to confiscate a substantial haul of methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 16 crore in Tripura, leading to the arrest of the vehicle's driver, officials reported on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the defense indicated that the operation commenced late Saturday night following specific intelligence reports regarding drug trafficking in Khowai district of Tripura.
During the operation, the joint forces stopped a truck traveling along National Highway-8, and after a meticulous search, they uncovered 1.60 lakh methamphetamine tablets.
The truck, utilized for transporting the drugs, was seized, and the driver, a resident of Sribhumi district in southern Assam (previously known as Karimganj), was detained. Ongoing investigations are being conducted, as stated by the spokesman.
The Assam Rifles has taken a leading role in anti-drug initiatives in the region, consistently executing missions aimed at disrupting and dismantling narcotics networks.
This seizure, occurring just before Republic Day celebrations, is recognized as a pivotal achievement in the fight against drug trafficking, as per an official statement.
Methamphetamine tablets, often referred to as Yaba or party tablets, consist of a blend of methamphetamine and caffeine and are prohibited in India.
Users commonly label these tablets as the ‘crazy drug’.
Initial investigations indicate that this shipment was smuggled from Myanmar through Mizoram and southern Assam before reaching Tripura, likely intended for a major drug kingpin or further smuggling into Bangladesh.
With an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh, Tripura is particularly susceptible to smuggling and various cross-border crimes. Myanmar, sharing a 1,643-km unfenced border with Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram, acts as a critical transit hub for multiple drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine tablets, along with other contraband entering India.