Methamphetamine Bust in Mizoram and Assam: Rs 42 Crore Seized
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Synopsis
In a significant operation, security forces in Mizoram and Assam seized methamphetamine tablets valued at Rs 42 crore and arrested three individuals, including two Myanmar nationals, involved in drug trafficking.
Key Takeaways
- Seizure of methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 42 crore.
- Arrest of three drug peddlers, including two from Myanmar.
- Operation conducted by Assam Rifles and Cachar district police.
- Drugs were smuggled across the porous border of Mizoram.
- Legal action is underway against the arrested individuals.
Aizawl/Silchar, Feb 18 (NationPress) Security forces in Mizoram and Assam have confiscated a significant quantity of methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 42 crore and detained three drug traffickers, including two Myanmar nationals, in the last 24 hours, officials reported on Tuesday.
A defence spokesperson indicated that 9.298 kg of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as Yaba or party pills, valued at approximately Rs 27.90 crore, was seized at the Vangkai crossing in Mizoram’s Champhai district on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of two Myanmar nationals.
The Assam Rifles conducted an operation based on intelligence and apprehended Lalthangvela (28) and Zaithangpuia (26), recovering the narcotics in the process.
The detained individuals hail from Khawmawi in Myanmar and had illegally crossed into Mizoram with the drugs through the porous borders of Champhai district. The entire drug consignment and the apprehended individuals have been handed over to the Police Department in Zokhawthar for further investigation and legal action.
In a separate incident in Assam, police in Cachar district initiated a targeted operation against the unlawful transportation of narcotics along the Silchar-Aizawl route, acting on reliable intelligence.
A police official from Silchar reported that during the operation, a Maruti Wagoner without a number plate was intercepted at Ramprasadpur, uncovering 40,000 methamphetamine tablets hidden in secret compartments and 23 soap cases containing 260 grams of suspected heroin. The estimated market value of these narcotics is around Rs 14 crore.
The individual involved in this illegal operation, Rakesh Kumar Sinha (24), a resident of Hatikhal village, was arrested. The narcotics, along with the vehicle, were seized in the presence of independent witnesses, adhering to all legal protocols.
Initial investigations suggest that the psychotropic substances were illegally transported from Manipur’s Churachandpur.
Legal proceedings are underway.
Mizoram shares a 510 km unfenced border with Myanmar’s Chin state, facilitating rampant drug smuggling across its six districts: Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. Myanmar serves as a crucial transit point for drugs, especially heroin and methamphetamine, entering India through its 1,643 km unfenced borders with four northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km), and Mizoram (510 km).
From these northeastern states, drugs are further trafficked into Bangladesh, which shares an extensive 1,880 km border with Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km), and Assam (263 km).
