New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) - In a collaborative effort by the NCB and CRPF, authorities successfully intercepted a shipment of 5.9 kg of Meth near Aizawl, Mizoram. This operation led to the arrest of eight individuals associated with a transnational drug syndicate, prominently featuring the key figure, Jabrul Hoque, as reported on Thursday.

Hoque, hailing from Karimganj, Assam, was detained alongside others on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB).

According to the official announcement, Hoque is a notorious narco-trafficker with a history of three drug trafficking cases, including one at Dharmanagar Police Station, Tripura, for which he was out on bail.

Initial investigations revealed that the narcotics were smuggled from across the Indo-Myanmar border near Champhai and were intended for transport to Sonamura, Tripura, for further distribution into Bangladesh.

This marks the second significant apprehension of a drug trafficker by the NCB in the North-Eastern region within just 15 days.

On November 20, Abu Saleh Md. Saifuddin, alias Mitu, another member of a transnational drug network in the North East, was taken into custody in Guwahati. He too has multiple drug trafficking charges against him.

The NCB's statement highlighted the establishment of a new regional office in Guwahati to enhance coordination with state authorities, facilitate real-time intelligence sharing, and improve operational efficiency.

New Zonal Units have been launched in Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), Siliguri (West Bengal), and Agartala (Tripura), while Field Offices have been made operational in Aizawl (Mizoram) and Dimapur (Nagaland).

The NCB's presence in Mizoram has significantly expanded following the setup of the Agartala Zonal Unit in January 2024 and the activation of the Aizawl Field Office from February this year, resulting in the seizure of 256 kg of meth, 2.2 kg of heroin, and the initiation of 13 NDPS cases leading to the arrest of 46 individuals over the last two years.

Enhanced cooperation between the NCB, Central Intelligence Agencies, and State Police has led to substantial recoveries of meth and heroin being trafficked from the Indo-Myanmar border within the North Eastern States.

To further consolidate the efforts of various Central and State agencies in the North Eastern region, the NCB conducted a two-day Regional ANTF Conference in Dimapur on November 13-14.

Additionally, the NCB has organized State Level Joint Coordination Committee meetings in Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Tripura to ensure effective coordination among various Central and state-level agencies for comprehensive investigations against drug syndicates.