What Happened in Mizoram? Drugs Valued at Rs 16.26 Crore Seized, One Arrested
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Aizawl, Nov 28 (NationPress) In a coordinated effort, the Assam Rifles along with the Mizoram Police have successfully seized drugs worth Rs 16.26 crore and apprehended a drug dealer in the Saitual district of Mizoram, officials reported on Friday.
A defense spokesperson stated that in an effort to combat the drug crisis in Mizoram, an anti-narcotics operation was carried out by the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police on the night of Thursday. Responding to precise intelligence regarding drug movement on Champhai-Saitual Road, the operation commenced with the establishment of a vehicle checkpoint, which flagged down a suspicious vehicle carrying illicit drugs.
During the search, authorities uncovered 5.421 kgs of highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, valued at over Rs 16.26 crores, from the drug dealer named Thangtinsei, who hails from the border town of Moreh in Manipur, located near the India-Myanmar border. The seized drugs, along with Thangtinsei, were transferred to the Saitual Police for an extensive investigation and subsequent legal action.
This recent drug bust occurred just 24 hours after another similar operation resulted in the seizure of a narcotic consignment in Mizoram, both of which were smuggled from the neighboring Myanmar.
On November 26, the Assam Rifles had previously confiscated methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 13.33 crore and apprehended a Myanmar national involved in drug trafficking. Acting on specific intelligence about narcotics trafficking near the India-Myanmar border, Assam Rifles personnel executed an operation along the World Bank Road at Zokhawthar in Mizoram’s Champhai district.
During this operation, authorities detected suspicious activity, and a prompt response led to the recovery of 4.444 kg of methamphetamine tablets—an extremely potent psychotropic substance—with an international market value exceeding Rs 13.33 crore.
Mizoram shares a 510 km and 318 km unfenced border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, respectively, while Manipur has a 398 km unfenced border with Myanmar. These northeastern states also border Assam, Nagaland, and Tripura, facilitating cross-border and inter-state drug trafficking.
Myanmar's Chin state acts as a significant hub for the smuggling of various drugs, exotic wildlife, and other contraband, affecting six districts in Mizoram—Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip—and five districts in Manipur—Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong, and Ukhrul.