Security Forces In Mizoram Seize Drugs Worth Rs 102 Crore Ahead Of Assembly Election

The seizures were made by Mizoram Police and Assam Rifles during four different operations in Champhai and Zokhawthar.

Security forces with one of the accused and a seized consignment of methamphetamine tablets. ( Image Source :X@mizorampolice )

Guwahati: Security forces, deployed along the India-Myanmar international borders in the northeastern state of Mizoram, have seized narcotic drugs, valued at Rs 102 crore in the international market, in the last four days.

The Assam Rifles in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, said, “Intensified operations by Assam Rifles has led to the seizure of Rs 102 crore of drugs in the last four days in border areas alone.”

The Mizoram police on Tuesday, in a press statement, said that the security forces, in their efforts to curb the drug menace and to ensure a tighter vigil for the upcoming state assembly elections on November 7, 2023, have seized huge consignments of methamphetamine tablets during two different operations conducted in the hill state's Champhai district on Monday.

A team from the district’s Zokhawthar police station while conducting a random check at the Zokhawthar immigration check post on Monday confiscated 70,000 methamphetamine tablets, weighing seven kilograms, estimated to be over Rs 17.52 crore in the international market. The consignment of narcotic substance, packed in seven polythene bags, was recovered from secret chambers of a truck bearing registration number MZ04-A-4629, the police said in the statement.

The police later arrested the occupant of the truck, identified as Thangtinkap (40), a resident of Champhai district’s Leisenzo village, and also seized the truck. The police registered a case under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, the statement added.

In another operation, carried out by a joint team of Mizoram police and Assam Rifles along Tiau river on Monday, arrested one Laldinlian (34), a resident of Zokhawthar village, and seized nearly 1.72 lakh methamphetamine tablets, weighing 17 kilograms, valued at nearly Rs 43 crore in the international market, from his possession. The police later registered a case under various sections of the NDPS Act, it said.

The statement further said that during the preliminary investigation and interrogation of the accused, it was revealed that both the consignments of narcotic drugs were brought from Myanmar.   

According to activists associated with the cause of drug de-addiction, methamphetamine is a powerful and addictive stimulant and is produced mostly in Southeast and East Asia. It is very popular among the Asian communities and is available at raves and techno parties. The narcotic substance has gained popularity in India in the last few years and is widely consumed mostly by the youth.