Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata/Imphal

Kolkata/Imphal, Aug 21: The Assam Rifles, under the Spear Corps of the Army’s Eastern Command, seized a large consignment of narcotics in Manipur on Friday and apprehended six people in connection with the operation.

The raid was conducted jointly with the Manipur Police and other agencies, sources said.

“Strengthening the fight against narcotics, Assam Rifles under Spear Corps, in a joint operation with state police, intercepted a boat carrying contraband at Jiribam, Manipur,” the Corps said in a post on X.

Six individuals were apprehended following a swift pursuit, leading to the recovery of 90,000 Yaba tablets valued at approximately Rs 27 crore and 48 grams of heroin worth Rs 28.80 lakh, it said.

The security forces described the operation as a major blow to narcotics trafficking networks and reaffirmed their commitment to creating a safer and drug-free region.

The proliferation of Yaba has emerged as a major concern in the country. The drug, whose name is derived from the Thai term for “crazy medicine”, is a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine. Methamphetamine is a powerful and highly addictive stimulant.

An official said the drugs enter India through porous borders and are not only consumed in the northeastern states but are also transported to other parts of the country.

Yaba tablets have previously been seized in West Bengal from smugglers allegedly planning to transport them across the border into Bangladesh, the official said.

Security agencies have also identified links between narcotics trafficking and terrorism.

“Yaba, treated as a party drug by youngsters, can be deadly. They can increase heart rate and blood pressure, damage the small blood vessels in the brain and lead to strokes,” the official said.

Overdoses can result in hyperthermia, convulsions and death, while users may also experience violent behaviour, paranoia, anxiety, confusion and insomnia, the official added.

The latest seizure was described as a significant success in the government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign.

The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force operating under the Army and is responsible for guarding India’s border with Myanmar, besides conducting counter-insurgency operations.

Its personnel regularly carry out intelligence-based operations to intercept consignments of narcotics and weapons entering the country.