Daijiworld Media Network - Aizawl
Aizawl, Nov 11: The Assam Rifles, in two separate operations in Mizoram, seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets and foreign-origin cigarettes worth over Rs 7.16 crore and arrested three alleged smugglers, officials said on Wednesday.
According to a defence spokesman, acting on credible intelligence inputs about narcotics transportation, the Assam Rifles launched an operation in the Crossing Point-III area of Zokhawthar along the India-Myanmar border in Champhai district on Tuesday night.
During the operation, personnel intercepted a suspected individual and recovered 5.789 kg of methamphetamine tablets, a highly addictive narcotic substance valued at approximately Rs 4.69 crore.
The apprehended individual, along with the seized contraband, was subsequently handed over to Zokhawthar Police Station for further investigation and legal proceedings.
In a separate operation, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with the Aizawl District Executive Force (DEF), seized a large consignment of foreign-origin cigarettes and arrested two individuals at Seling in Mizoram.
The seized consignment comprised foreign cigarette brands, including V, Mond and ESSE Light, with an estimated market value of Rs 2.47 crore. Two vehicles, a Tata Sumo and a Mahindra Pickup, allegedly used for transporting the contraband, were also seized.
The two arrested individuals, along with the cigarettes and vehicles, were handed over to Bawngkawn Police Station for further investigation and necessary legal action.
An official statement said the successful operations highlighted the importance of credible intelligence inputs, effective coordination between agencies and sustained vigilance in tackling smuggling activities.
The Assam Rifles reiterated its commitment to working closely with the Aizawl District Executive Force and other law enforcement agencies to prevent smuggling and maintain peace and security in Mizoram.
Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as major drug-trafficking corridors in the Northeast, primarily due to their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and proximity to the Golden Triangle, one of the world's major illicit narcotics-producing regions.
Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share a combined 910-km-long international border with Myanmar, making the two states particularly vulnerable to cross-border drug smuggling.
The Golden Triangle, comprising areas of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, has long been identified as a major centre for the production and trafficking of illicit narcotics, including synthetic drugs.
The porous borders, coupled with difficult geographical terrain, pose major challenges for security agencies seeking to prevent narcotics trafficking and dismantle cross-border smuggling networks.