Mizoram: Contraband drugs worth over Rs 54.79 crore seized

On July 26, in a joint operation, the troops of the Assam Rifles and the Excise & Narcotics Department of Champhai, Mizoram, seized a huge quantity of contraband drugs worth over Rs 54.79 crore in two separate operations in Mizoram’s Champhai district, according to an official statement.

The Assam Rifles, under Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), made a recovery on July 26. The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles and the Customs Department based on specific information. During the operation, 94940 meth tablets were recovered in the Mualkawi area, and in another operation, 87720 meth tablets were recovered in the Khuangleng area, according to the officials.

The entire consignment of Meth tablets is worth Rs 54,79,80,000, and the recovered consignment has been handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department in Champhai for further legal proceedings, the official added.

The ongoing smuggling of illegal drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram.

Earlier in June, in the ongoing crisis in Manipur, it was reported that Mizoram has become the new drugs trade route from Myanmar.

Security forces in Mizoram have seized heroin worth over Rs 271 crore in the international market since January this year. Interestingly drugs worth over Rs 80 crores were confiscated between May 5 to June 15. The Manipur violence started on May 3, and the drug rackets have changed their transit route to Mizoram since then, an official said in Aizawl.

The Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department seized 27.7 kg of heroin worth around Rs 138.5 crore between January and June this year. The seized heroin was mostly smuggled from Myanmar.

The State police seized 26.5 kg of heroin worth around Rs 132.5 crore between January and May. But the seizure from May 5 to June 15 is much higher, which is over 80 crores since the State has become the new transit route of drugs from Myanmar due to the ongoing crisis in Manipur. The State Government has expressed concern about the alarming increase in drug menace in the State.