In a major crackdown on drug smuggling from Myanmar, Assam Rifles and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a joint operation in Assam’s Cachar district, seizing heroin valued at Rs 3.2 crore. Two smugglers were apprehended during the raid, marking a significant blow to the narcotics network plaguing the region.
The operation unfolded late Wednesday night following specific intelligence about drug trafficking in Cachar. The joint team intercepted suspects on National Highway-306, a key route connecting to the hilly terrains of Mizoram. The highway serves as a primary conduit for illicit goods entering from the international border.
Cachar shares over 164 kilometers of border with Mizoram, which itself borders Myanmar. This porous frontier has turned the area into a hotspot for heroin and other narcotics flowing from Myanmar’s production hubs. Authorities recovered the contraband from a vehicle, along with a mobile phone used by the accused.
This seizure underscores the relentless efforts of Assam Rifles and DRI in dismantling drug cartels. Officials suspect the heroin originated in Myanmar, transited through Mizoram, and was destined for other parts of India. The vehicle involved has been impounded, and investigations continue to uncover the larger syndicate.
Just two days prior, on February 10, Assam Rifles, in collaboration with state police and the Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau, seized 3.518 kg of morphine worth Rs 3.5 crore in Mizoram’s Saitual district. Two individuals, Kasim and Mukim Ali, were arrested in that operation after their vehicle was stopped and searched.
Mizoram’s 510 km unfenced border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh make it highly vulnerable to cross-border smuggling. Myanmar’s Chin state is notorious as a hub for drugs, foreign cigarettes, betel nuts, and wildlife products, funneled through six Mizoram districts: Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.
These back-to-back successes highlight the intensified vigilance along India’s northeastern frontiers. Law enforcement agencies remain committed to curbing the menace of narcotics, which threatens public health and national security. Further interrogations may reveal more links in the smuggling chain.