What Happened in Mizoram with Rs 9.47 Crore of Drugs and Cigarettes?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rs 9.47 crore worth of drugs and foreign cigarettes were seized in Mizoram.
- 1.053 kg of heroin was recovered from a drug smuggler.
- The operation was a joint effort by the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police.
- Both drugs were smuggled from Myanmar, a known trafficking hub.
- Awareness campaigns on drug abuse are being conducted in local communities.
Aizawl, Aug 7 (NationPress) The Assam Rifles along with Mizoram Police have successfully confiscated heroin and foreign cigarettes valued at over Rs 9.47 crore and detained one individual during two distinct operations in Mizoram's Champhai district, officials reported on Thursday.
A defence spokesperson stated that following specific intelligence, the Assam Rifles initiated a collaborative operation with Mizoram Police officials in Champhai on Wednesday night.
The Champhai police check the gate adjacent to Myanmar.
Upon conducting a meticulous search, the combined team recovered 1.053 kg of heroin worth Rs 8.58 crore from a drug trafficker.
The confiscated drugs and the arrested individual have been submitted to the Mizoram Police for further legal proceedings.
In a separate operation, also based on reliable intelligence, the Assam Rifles carried out a search in the Chhungte region of Champhai district on Thursday.
During this search, the paramilitary unit seized 69 cases and 10 loose cartons of foreign cigarettes valued at Rs 89.96 lakh.
The confiscated items have been transferred to the Champai Legal Metrology Department.
Officials indicated that both the heroin and foreign cigarettes originated from neighboring Myanmar.
Myanmar's Chin State has become a significant center for drug trafficking, wildlife smuggling, and various other illegal activities.
The contraband typically passes through six districts in Mizoram—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip—sharing an unfenced border of 510 km with Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles have initiated awareness programs such as seminars and group discussions to emphasize the negative impacts of drugs, as drug trafficking is a punishable offense under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985.
The defence spokesperson highlighted that these awareness initiatives aim to inform the local populace, particularly youth, about the detrimental effects of drug abuse and the severe legal repercussions linked to drug trafficking and distribution.