Guwahati: Security forces posted along the Indo-Myanmar border in the northeast hill state of Mizoram have apprehended as many as four individuals and seized a huge cache of ammunition, rifle scopes, and narcotic drugs, valued at Rs 46.55 crore in the grey market, between Sunday and Wednesday.
The Mizoram police along with the troops of 42nd Assam Rifles, on Tuesday, while conducting an operation in the state’s Lawngtlai district, intercepted a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), bearing registration number MZ02-A-1810. During a thorough search of the vehicle, the joint team recovered a total of 3,000 live rounds of .30 ammunition, as many as 10 vector optics scopes (a high-quality rifle scope), and ten 30mm dovetail scope rings, used in mounting a scope to rifle, the Mizoram police said.
The police immediately arrested the driver of the vehicle, identified as C. Vanlalpeka (34), a resident of Lawngtlai district’s Sangau-II village, and seized the recovered ammunition, other accessories, and the vehicle.
The police later registered a case against the driver at the Sangau police station under section 25(1A) of the Arms Act.
On Wednesday, the Assam Rifles and Mizoram police while carrying out another joint operation in the Melbuk Road Junction area of Champhai district’s Zokhawthar town along the Indo-Myanmar border, apprehended an individual, identified as V Lalramchuanwmawia (27), a resident of Champhai district’s Vengthar, and recovered 5.394 grams of heroin, valued at Rs 37.75 crore in the grey market, the Assam Rifles said.
On Tuesday, the Assam Rifles along with the Mizoram police apprehended an individual in Champhai district’s Hnahlan town bordering Myanmar. During the frisking of the person, 50 packets containing 7,500 methamphetamine-addictive tablets, estimated to be worth Rs 2.25 crore in the international market, were recovered from his possession.
The Assam Rifles and the Mizoram police while carrying out two separate operations at Champhai district’s Zokhawthar town between Sunday and Monday, apprehended an individual, and recovered 936 grams of heroin, valued at Rs 6.55 crore in the grey market, from his possession.
According to the Mizoram police, traffickers widely use the state’s international porous borders to smuggle various contraband items to India from Myanmar.
India shares a 1,643-kilometre-long border with Myanmar, with Mizoram sharing a 510-kilometre-long border with the neighbouring country.
On February 6 this year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Centre has decided to fence the entire stretch of the international border with Myanmar.