In a determined show of grit against the narcotics menace, police forces in Mizoram and Assam have carried out a string of operations over the past two weeks, intercepting massive consignments of illegal drugs worth more than Rs 347 crore.
For Mizoram Police, the battle has been relentless. “Our untiring drive against drugs and other illegal activities continues,” said H. Ramthlengliana, Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) and Chief Public Relations Officer. His words reflect the scale of recent operations, where multiple teams — often in coordination with the CRPF and Assam Rifles — have dismantled smuggling attempts one after another.
On August 9, a car moving through the Seling and Bungbangla areas of Aizawl was stopped in a joint operation by the Special Narcotics Police Station under CID Crime and the 225 Battalion CRPF. Inside were 3.930 kg of methamphetamine tablets, worth Rs 51.09 lakh. Three people — Sahab Uddin (41), Emanuel Remnalalliana (25), and Lalbiaksiama (23) — were taken into custody.
Just days earlier, on August 6, Champhai Police seized 1.053 kg (88 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 31.59 lakh at the Khankawn Checkgate. The accused, 32-year-old Agnes Lalremsiami, was arrested on the spot.
The most staggering find came on August 1. Officers from the CID Special Branch and Special Narcotics Police Station intercepted a pickup truck on the Zemabawk–Seling route. A secret compartment concealed 20.304 kg of suspected crystal meth — estimated at Rs 300 crore — and 1.625 kg (120 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 49.56 lakh. The driver, B. Lalthazuala (45), was arrested, and the main suspect, Bawilianthang (42), was picked up after further interrogation.
That same night in Lunglei, police working with the 20th Battalion Assam Rifles intercepted a passenger vehicle from Champhai. From one passenger, Lalrintluangi (33), they seized 220.81 grams (18 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 6.62 lakh. Searches of three other passengers yielded another 120.31 grams (10 soap cases), valued at Rs 3.61 lakh.
The chain of busts extended into July. On July 31, Champhai Police recovered 167 grams (16 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 5.01 lakh from Lalmuanawma (38) and K. Lalawmpuia (27). The same day in Aizawl, three residents were caught with 364 grams (31 soap cases) worth Rs 10.92 lakh.
On July 28, Champhai Police, along with the CID Special Branch, found 440 grams (36 soap cases) of heroin worth Rs 13.20 lakh hidden inside a vehicle. The accused, Kalpo Jyoti Borah (26) of Assam and Rajan Brahma (32) of Arunachal Pradesh, were taken into custody.
Mizoram police have registered multiple cases under the NDPS Act and further investigations are on to unwreath the larger international racket which is pushing contrabands to the state.
Meanwhile, Assam police on August 11 seized a huge consignment of drugs in a coordinated operation in Cachar district. Police teams acting on confirmed intelligence inputs raided two different locations and seized 1.5 lakh Yaba tablets. Police sources revealed that the black market price of the seized contrabands is 45 crores. Police arrested four drug smugglers in the operation. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the successful anti-drugs operation by Assam police and reiterated the government’s commitment to continue the war on drugs for protecting the youth of the nation.
