Burmese Areca Nuts Worth 4.8 Cr Seized By Assam Rifles Along Indo-Myanmar Border, 3 Arrested

The suspected Burmese areca nuts were seized in two different operations by the Assam Rifles from three vehicles bearing Myanmar registration numbers at the Sangkalok Nala area along the Indo-Myanmar international border.

One of the Accused with the seized Myanmar registration vehicle | Another accused with the seized consignment of suspected Burmese areca nuts along with the Myanmar registration vehicle.

Source : Assam Rifles

Guwahati: The Assam Rifles has seized a huge quantity of suspected Burmese areca nuts valued at Rs 4.84 crore in the international market and nabbed three persons involved in smuggling of the contraband item from Manipur’s Kamjong district. The consignments of the suspected Burmese areca nuts were seized in two different operations by troopers of the Assam Rifles from three vehicles bearing Myanmar registration numbers at the Sangkalok Nala area along the Indo-Myanmar international border.

“Based on reliable inputs about the movement of contraband items along the Indo-Myanmar border, a team of Assam Rifles launched to dominate the suspected area. On thorough search, 209 bags of suspected Areca Nuts (Supari) worth approximately Rs 2.50 crore (as per international market rate) were found being illegally smuggled in three Myanmarese trucks in General Area Sangkalok Nala track (Near BP-99)  through the international border towards Indian side,” a press statement of the Assam Rifles informed.  

Consignment Of The Suspected Burmese Areca Nuts. (Photo: Assam Rifles)

“In a similar such operation, a team of Assam Rifles was launched to dominate the suspected area after receiving credible inputs. On extensive search of the vehicle, 190 bags of suspected Areca Nuts (Supari) worth approximately Rs 2.34 crore (as per international market rate) were found being illegally smuggled in three Myanmarese trucks in General Area Sangkalok Nala track (Near BP-98) through international border towards Indian side,” the statement added.

Three accused involved in the illegal trade, identified as Wynwyn, Thuntun, and Aungshun, were apprehended by the Assam Rifles personnel.

Assam Rifles personnel with the seized consignment of suspected Burmese areca nuts. (Photo: Assam Rifles)

Later, the Assam Rifles handed over the trio, the consignment of the suspected Burmese areca nuts, and their vehicles to the state forest department for further legal proceedings.

According to the police, Burmese areca nuts are smuggled from Myanmar and then unlawfully transported to other parts of India and abroad. Mafias involved in the trade usually use the railways as a safe mode of transport to smuggle the contraband item. 

In the last six years, trucks and train wagons filled with suspected Burmese areca nuts have been confiscated at several locations in Assam and its neighbouring states of Mizoram and Manipur. These areca nuts are widely chewed across South Asia despite the harmful health effects. 

A high-level probe was ordered in 2021 in India into the smuggling of areca nuts from the neighboring countries.  

The writer is a senior independent journalist covering the Northeast.

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