Daijiworld Media Network - Aizwal
Aizawl, Apr 13: In yet another major crackdown on cross-border smuggling, security forces in Mizoram seized a massive haul of methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 54 crore and apprehended a Myanmar national linked to the trafficking operation.
Acting on precise intelligence, a joint operation was carried out late Saturday night by the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police in the Siachangkawn area of Lawngtlai district, which shares a porous and unfenced border with Bangladesh. The raid led to the confiscation of 17.946 kg — approximately 1.8 lakh tablets — of the highly addictive synthetic drug, often referred to as Yaba or "party pills".
According to a defence spokesperson, the seized narcotics were en route to Bangladesh, smuggled in from Myanmar via covert routes. The arrested Myanmar national and the seized contraband were handed over to the Bualpui Police Outpost for further legal action.
“This successful operation underscores the Assam Rifles' relentless efforts to disrupt the drug networks operating in the region and protect our youth from the devastating effects of narcotics,” the spokesperson stated.
Officials noted that Myanmar’s Chin State, bordering Mizoram, has become a major source of narcotics and contraband, including exotic animals and weapons, which are smuggled through six districts — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.
Mizoram Police confirmed that these meth tablets were part of a growing illicit trade being funneled from Myanmar to Bangladesh, passing through the state’s dense terrain and vulnerable border zones.
Raising alarm over the worsening drug crisis, Chief Minister Lalduhoma addressed a gathering in Aizawl on Saturday, calling on citizens to take collective responsibility in fighting drug abuse.
“We must strengthen both legal frameworks and traditional Mizo community values to combat the spread of narcotics. Our social sanction systems, rooted in Mizo culture, can be even more powerful than laws in curbing this menace,” he said.
Mizoram shares an extensive 510 km border with Myanmar and another 318 km with Bangladesh, much of which remains unfenced, making it a hotbed for smuggling activities.
The seizure marks yet another chapter in the state’s ongoing battle against narcotics trafficking, reinforcing the need for vigilant border security and robust community participation in the war against drugs.