Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), seized 8,764 kg of poppy seeds valued at approximately ₹1.31 crore in Assam's Cachar district on 21 June, apprehending two individuals in the process. The contraband was intercepted on the Silchar Bypass Road late on Saturday evening, following specific intelligence inputs about trafficking activity in the district.

How the Operation Unfolded

Acting on credible intelligence, a joint team of Assam Rifles and DRI personnel stopped a Tata truck on the Silchar Bypass Road and recovered the poppy seeds concealed inside. The operation was swift and targeted, with no reported exchange of fire. Two residents of Silchar were apprehended at the scene.

In addition to the poppy seeds, authorities seized the Tata truck used to transport the consignment and two mobile handsets recovered from the accused. All seized material, along with the two individuals, has been handed over to the DRI for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Scale of the Seizure

The recovered quantity — 8,764 kg of poppy seeds — is estimated at ₹1.31 crore in the illegal market, according to officials. Poppy seeds, while used in food and pharmaceuticals in regulated quantities, are tightly controlled under India's narcotics laws due to their link to opium production. Trafficking through the northeastern corridor has been a persistent enforcement challenge given the region's proximity to the 'Golden Triangle' drug-producing zone.

Broader Anti-Trafficking Campaign

Officials noted that this seizure is part of a sustained, intelligence-led campaign by security and enforcement agencies to disrupt contraband networks operating across Northeast India. Assam Rifles stated it has been coordinating closely with the DRI and other law enforcement bodies, with several major seizures recorded in recent months that have, according to the force, dealt significant blows to smuggling syndicates.

Investigators are now probing the origin and intended destination of the consignment, and are examining whether the two arrested individuals are linked to larger trafficking networks active in the region.

What Happens Next

The case has been transferred to the DRI, which will lead the formal investigation. The two accused are expected to face charges under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The outcome of the probe could shed light on the supply chain and potential cross-border dimensions of this trafficking network.