Authorities in Tripura and Mizoram seized drugs and contraband worth over Rs 9 crore in major anti-smuggling operations. Methamphetamine tablets, heroin, and banned foreign cigarettes were confiscated, with Myanmar suspected as the origin. Arrests were made, highlighting increasing drug trafficking through India’s northeastern states.
In a major crackdown on drug smuggling in the northeastern region, security forces in Tripura and Mizoram seized narcotics and contraband worth over Rs 9 crore within just a few days. These operations underscore the increasing use of India’s northeast as a transit corridor for illicit drugs and banned goods, allegedly originating from neighboring Myanmar.
On Sunday, Tripura Police arrested a suspected drug peddler and seized methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 4 crore during a routine vehicle check at Churaibari in North Tripura district. The checkpoint, located at the inter-state border with Assam, is a strategic point frequently used by smugglers ferrying contraband into Tripura from other states.
According to police officials, the arrested individual has been identified as 24-year-old Sanjay Sahani. During the inspection, over 80,000 methamphetamine tablets—popularly known as Yaba or party tablets—were recovered from the vehicle. The suspect was immediately taken into custody, and a case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the consignment may have originated from Myanmar, a notorious hub for drug production and smuggling in Southeast Asia. “We suspect that the methamphetamine tablets were smuggled from Myanmar and brought to Tripura via Mizoram and southern Assam,” said a senior police official. “These colored pills have become increasingly popular in countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and also parts of India and Bangladesh.”
This major seizure comes on the heels of another significant operation on June 12, when Assam Rifles and officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) confiscated around 195 kilograms of marijuana worth Rs 30 lakh from Taranagar, a region on the outskirts of Agartala, Tripura’s capital. The coordinated action is part of Assam Rifles’ ongoing effort to dismantle smuggling networks operating across the India-Bangladesh border.
In a statement, Assam Rifles noted: “This interdiction is part of our sustained efforts to curb illegal activities along the India-Bangladesh border and uphold national security. We are maintaining a high level of vigilance to disrupt these networks.”
Continuing their operations, Assam Rifles on Tuesday reported yet another significant bust involving the seizure of foreign contraband worth Rs 5.15 crore in Tripura and Mizoram. In Tripura, troops acting on intelligence inputs intercepted a consignment of 170 cartons of banned foreign cigarettes near Chandrapur, on the outskirts of Agartala. The total value of the seized cigarettes was pegged at Rs 5.1 crore. These were handed over to the Customs Department for further legal action.
In a separate but related operation in Mizoram, Assam Rifles and officials from the Excise and Narcotics Department recovered 19.2 grams of heroin from the Zote area in Champhai district. The estimated street value of the heroin is Rs 14.4 lakh. A drug peddler was arrested, and both the individual and the seized contraband were handed over to the concerned authorities.
Officials believe that both the foreign cigarettes and the heroin may have also been smuggled in from Myanmar, underscoring the role the country plays in trafficking various illicit substances and goods into India. Myanmar shares a 1,643 km-long unfenced border with four Indian northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram—which facilitates the movement of smugglers and traffickers.
Experts point out that Myanmar’s Chin State remains a focal point for smuggling operations, with contraband—ranging from narcotics to exotic wildlife—flowing into India through six districts of Mizoram: Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.
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The back-to-back seizures over the past few days highlight a growing concern for law enforcement agencies as they try to stem the tide of drugs and illegal goods entering the region. With narcotics like methamphetamine gaining popularity among youth in both India and neighboring countries, agencies are intensifying surveillance and intelligence-gathering to identify and dismantle the transnational networks behind the smuggling.
As authorities continue their probe, the repeated interceptions are being seen as a sign of both the scale of the trafficking and the effectiveness of heightened border vigilance. However, officials admit that the challenge remains significant, given the porous borders and the increasing sophistication of trafficking networks operating in the region.
