Tripura Police Uncover Drug Smuggling Operations, Arrest Three Suspects
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On February 11, Tripura Police seized drugs valued at over Rs 30 crore and arrested three suspects involved in drug trafficking from Myanmar. The police efforts have been praised by Chief Minister Manik Saha as they tackle the ongoing issue of drug smuggling in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Tripura Police seized drugs worth over Rs 30 crore.
- Three drug peddlers were arrested in recent operations.
- Drugs were smuggled from Myanmar via Mizoram and Assam.
- Drug trafficking remains a significant issue in northeastern India.
- Chief Minister Manik Saha commended police efforts.
Agartala, Feb 11 (NationPress) The illicit trade of drugs from Myanmar into India's northeastern states shows no signs of slowing down, as Tripura Police confiscated narcotics valued at over Rs 30 crore within just 48 hours and apprehended three drug traffickers, as per officials on Tuesday.
An official reported that in the Dhalai district, police intercepted a truck loaded with 9.24 lakh Yaba tablets worth Rs 28 crore and took into custody the driver and his companion, both from Assam.
Dhalai Superintendent of Police Mihir Lal Das stated that the truck, which was headed to Agartala from Assam, was halted at a checkpoint in Ambassa. Following an inspection, the highly addictive Yaba tablets, known as methamphetamine pills, were discovered hidden inside the truck's oil tanker. The suspects are currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the main players in the drug trafficking operation, he added.
On the preceding day, Tripura Police had stopped another vehicle in the North Tripura district, recovering 50,000 Yaba tablets valued at Rs 2.5 crore from a concealed compartment and detaining the driver.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also oversees the Home and Health departments, praised the police for their dedication to combating drug smuggling.
Police officials shared that interrogations of the detained drivers revealed that the drugs were transported from Myanmar through Mizoram and Assam before reaching Tripura, on their way to Bangladesh.
Mizoram has a 510 km long unfenced border with Myanmar's Chin state, which facilitates rampant drug smuggling across its six districts: Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.
Myanmar shares a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km), and Mizoram (510 km)—serving as a crucial transit hub for drugs, especially heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India. From these northeastern states, the narcotics are further trafficked into Bangladesh, which has a 1,880 km border with Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km), and Assam (263 km).
Though a large section of the India-Bangladesh border is fenced, the India-Myanmar border remains completely open, facilitating the illegal trafficking of drugs.
