Security forces arrested two persons and seized methamphetamine tablets, a narcotic substance, valued at Rs 20 crore in the international market, at Silchar's Kumbhirgram airport in Assam's Cachar district. Based on specific input, a joint team of the Cachar police and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended two persons, and during checking of their luggage, recovered four kilograms of methamphetamine tablets packed in four plastic packets.
The police later arrested the duo, identified as Joseph Lalnunmawia (22) and F Lalhmangaihzuala (30), both residents of Mizoram.
Speaking exclusively with ABP Live, Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP), Numal Mahatta, said, "During interrogation of the accused, they have revealed that they procured the consignment of drugs from Mizoram’s capital Aizawl and Saiphai in the hill state's Kolasib district. They were travelling to Kolkata in an Alliance Air flight, and were supposed to hand over the drugs to another person there, who would have transhipped it to another undisclosed location."
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, praising the efforts of the security forces wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Acting on a tip-off, @cacharpolice along with the CISF conducted an operation against drug peddlers at Kumbhirgram Airport, Silchar and recovered 4 packets containing 4 kg of Methamphetamine. Two persons were arrested in the incident. Great job @assampolice & @CISFHQrs!”
Earlier this month, the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police, during different operations, arrested two persons and seized methamphetamine tablets valued at Rs 102 crore from Mizoram’s Champhai district bordering Myanmar.
According to experts, methamphetamine is a powerful and addictive stimulant, and is mostly consumed by youth in Asian countries. The narcotic substance, which has gained popularity in India in the past few years, is widely available at rave parties.
Methamphetamine tablets are either consumed orally or injected by crushing it into powdered form. Consumption of the drug has severe side effects and those who inject it run the risk of contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C, besides other blood-borne viruses.