Assam Rifles, Customs, DRI Confiscate Drugs Worth Rs 24 Crore in Tripura, One Arrested
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Synopsis
In a significant drug bust, the Assam Rifles and other law enforcement agencies have seized methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 24 crore in Tripura and arrested one person. The operations highlight ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.
Key Takeaways
- The Assam Rifles and Customs seized drugs valued at Rs 24 crore.
- Over 240,000 methamphetamine tablets were confiscated in two incidents.
- One individual was arrested during the operations.
- The Assam Rifles has conducted 21 operations since January.
- The initiative aligns with the state’s drugs-free mission.
Agartala, Feb 27 (NationPress) In a significant drug bust, the Assam Rifles, in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies, have confiscated a substantial quantity of highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 24 crore in Tripura within a span of 24 hours, resulting in the arrest of one individual, officials stated on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the defence revealed that acting on specific intelligence, a combined team of Assam Rifles and Customs officials discovered unclaimed luggage on the Agartala-bound Shatabdi Express at Ambassa in Tripura’s Dhalai district on Wednesday night, unearthing over 150,000 methamphetamine tablets, commonly referred to as Yaba tablets, with an estimated value of Rs 15 crore.
The seized narcotics have been handed over to Customs for further legal action.
In a separate incident, the Assam Rifles, in conjunction with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), intercepted a truck loaded with cement bags originating from Shillong at Teliamura in Khowai district, Tripura.
Upon detailed inspection, they recovered 90,000 methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 9 crore from the vehicle.
One individual, a resident of Belonia in South Tripura district, was taken into custody.
The confiscated drugs and the detained suspect were turned over to the DRI for subsequent legal procedures.
The spokesperson noted that the Assam Rifles has executed 21 operations in Tripura since January, resulting in the recovery of contraband valued at Rs 95.56 crore.
According to an official announcement, these successful interventions are part of the Assam Rifles' ongoing mission to combat drug trafficking and align with the state government's initiative of a ‘Nasha Mukt’ (drugs-free) Tripura.
Security forces have been carrying out extensive anti-drug operations throughout the state, aiming to disrupt cross-border drug cartels and significantly reduce the drug trade.
The Assam Rifles, in partnership with allied agencies, remains resolute in its commitment to dismantling narcotics networks and ensuring a safer Tripura, as stated in the release.
Following Mizoram and Manipur, Tripura and Assam have emerged as vital corridors for drug smuggling. Various narcotics are trafficked from Myanmar, reaching Tripura via Mizoram and Assam, and subsequently heading towards neighboring Bangladesh.
Myanmar, which shares a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram — acts as a significant transit hub for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India. From these northeastern states, the drugs are further smuggled into Bangladesh, which shares an 1,880 km border with Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Assam (263 km). While a large portion of the India-Bangladesh border is fenced, the India-Myanmar border remains completely open, facilitating illegal trafficking.
