Did NCB Make Significant Drug Bust Near India-Myanmar Border?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NCB seized 7.31 kg of heroin near the India-Myanmar border.
- Drug traffickers were arrested during the operation.
- The heroin was hidden in soap cases.
- This operation is part of a larger effort against cross-border drug trafficking.
- Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the trafficking network.
New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully intercepted a substantial drug shipment originating from Haichin city in Myanmar and apprehended two traffickers with 7.31 kg of heroin, estimated to be worth around Rs 15 crore, as confirmed by an official on Thursday.
The narcotics were ingeniously hidden within 638 soap cases as the traffickers attempted to smuggle the contraband into India, according to the official's statement.
This operation is part of the NCB’s intensified efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking from Myanmar. The agency has reported a significant increase in surveillance and enforcement along vulnerable routes in the North Eastern Region.
The NCB noted that sustained vigilance and stricter enforcement along traditional trafficking paths have compelled drug syndicates to abandon conventional routes, opting instead for dense forest trails and riverine pathways to avoid detection. This evolving method has been consistently observed across the area.
Emphasizing this trend, the NCB revealed that its Guwahati Zonal Unit had intercepted and seized approximately 7 kg of heroin in Jiribam last month, indicating a shift in trafficking patterns and highlighting the effectiveness of improved inter-zonal collaboration and intelligence-driven operations.
In light of this, and acting on specific intelligence developed over a considerable period, the NCB Imphal Zonal Unit conducted a rapid operation, dismantling an international drug trafficking network operating from Myanmar to Manipur.
On January 7, the NCB Imphal intercepted a Bolero vehicle near the Indo-Myanmar border and arrested two individuals identified as Ginkhawmlian and Mangboi Simte, both residents of Mata, Multam, Churachandpur district, Manipur.
A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered 7.312 kg of high-grade heroin concealed in 638 soap cases, stated the NCB.
Initial investigations suggest that the seized narcotics were sourced from Haichin in Myanmar and trafficked through forest corridors in Manipur to evade urban surveillance, police checkpoints, and security camps.
The agency is currently conducting further investigations to identify the broader network involved in the trafficking operation. Both individuals arrested will be presented before the appropriate court along with the seized narcotics for legal proceedings under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.