Agartala, April 12 The Assam Rifles and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a joint operation, have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, valued at over Rs 16 crore, in Tripura and arrested a suspected drug peddler, officials said on Sunday.
An Assam Rifles official stated that, in a major blow to narcotics trafficking, the paramilitary force, acting on specific intelligence inputs and in coordination with the DRI, apprehended an individual at Teliamura in Khowai district on Saturday night.
During the operation, a pick-up vehicle bearing a Tripura registration number was intercepted.
A thorough search of the vehicle led to the recovery of approximately two lakh methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as Yaba tablets.
The apprehended individual has been identified as Raju Deb, 44, a resident of Jalilpur in West Tripura.
The accused, along with the seized contraband and the vehicle, has been handed over to the DRI for further investigation and legal proceedings.
The operation underscores the continued resolve of the Assam Rifles, in close coordination with the DRI, to combat the menace of narcotics trafficking and maintain a secure environment in the region, the statement added.
A police official indicated that the drugs were likely smuggled from Myanmar and routed through Mizoram and southern Assam before being clandestinely brought into Tripura, with the intention of further smuggling them into Bangladesh.
Mizoram shares a 510-km-long unfenced international border with Myanmar and a 318-km-long porous and mountainous border with Bangladesh, making the region particularly vulnerable to cross-border smuggling of drugs and other illegal activities. Tripura, which has an 856-km border with Bangladesh and is surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country, also remains highly vulnerable and sensitive to cross-border migration and smuggling.
Myanmar’s adjoining Chin State is considered a major hub for trafficking narcotics, arms and ammunition, exotic wildlife, precious medicinal plants, foreign-made cigarettes, Myanmar areca nuts (betel nuts), and other contraband. These illegal goods are often smuggled through six districts of Mizoram -- Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.
Among the most commonly trafficked substances from Myanmar are methamphetamine tablets. Often referred to as the "crazy drug", these tablets contain a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and are strictly banned in India.
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