Mizoram Police seized methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 30.72 crore in Champhai near the Myanmar border and arrested two suspects. In a related case, heroin was seized in Manipur. Both busts highlight the growing drug trafficking menace in India’s Northeast through porous international borders.
In one of the largest drug busts in Mizoram’s history, the state police seized methamphetamine tablets valued at around Rs 30.72 crore and arrested two individuals in Champhai district, located near the Myanmar border. The operation was conducted late Sunday night in Vanzau village, highlighting the region’s growing vulnerability as a corridor for international drug trafficking.
According to police officials, more than two crore methamphetamine tablets, weighing approximately 236.33 kg, were confiscated during the operation. These highly addictive tablets, often referred to as “Yaba” or “party drugs,” are increasingly being smuggled into India from Myanmar to cater to both domestic and international markets.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, police intercepted a suspicious vehicle traveling from Thinghrangkawn to Bungzung—two villages near the international border. A detailed search of the vehicle led to the massive drug haul. The accused, identified as Laltanpuia (30) and Vanropuia (27), both residents of Champhai town, were taken into custody. Authorities have filed a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
A senior police official stated that preliminary investigations suggest the drugs were being smuggled from Myanmar and were likely intended for distribution in major Indian cities or potentially for export through illicit international networks. With its porous and largely unfenced borders, the Champhai district has become a strategic point for cross-border narcotics trade.
In a related development, security forces in neighboring Manipur also intercepted a drug consignment in Churachandpur district. Acting on a tip-off, joint teams from the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police intercepted a vehicle and seized approximately 1.3 kg of heroin concealed in 108 soap cases. The driver, Letminthang (29), a resident of Chehjang village in Chandel district, was arrested.
Authorities believe the heroin was also smuggled from Myanmar and was en route to Assam’s Silchar via Churachandpur. Manipur’s Churachandpur district, like Champhai in Mizoram, shares an unfenced and highly vulnerable border with Myanmar, making it a prime route for narcotics traffickers.
Both incidents underscore the increasing frequency and scale of cross-border drug trafficking in Northeast India. Law enforcement agencies are intensifying surveillance and intelligence operations to combat the threat, which poses a serious risk to public health and national security.
