Daijiworld Media Network - Agartala

Agartala, Oct 7: In one of the biggest crackdowns on narcotics in recent times, the Assam Rifles, working closely with Customs officials, seized a massive consignment of methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 70 crore in Tripura’s Khowai district and apprehended four alleged traffickers.

According to a defence spokesperson, the operation was launched in the Singhichhara area based on actionable intelligence. Two trucks, seemingly transporting cement, were intercepted and found to be carrying over 69.6 kg of methamphetamine tablets—commonly known as Yaba or party pills. These tablets, known for their addictive properties, are a banned substance under Indian law.

This bust is being seen as a follow-up to a similar seizure made on September 29 in Mohanpur, West Tripura district, where authorities recovered 60.77 kg of Yaba tablets valued at Rs 60 crore. That interception was part of a larger strategy to preempt drug trafficking during the Durga Puja season, a time when smugglers often attempt to exploit increased movement and festivities.

“By analyzing leads from previous busts, security forces identified and tracked key smuggling routes and networks,” the spokesperson stated, emphasizing that the efforts are part of a wider mission to curb the drug menace in the Northeast.

The 'crazy drug', as meth-laced Yaba tablets are sometimes called, is believed to have originated in Myanmar and made its way into Tripura via Mizoram and southern Assam. From there, traffickers aim to push the consignment into Bangladesh, taking advantage of Tripura’s 856 km porous international border, much of which is shared with the neighboring country.

While much of the border is fenced, gaps remain, making the region vulnerable to cross-border trafficking, illegal trade, and infiltration.

Tripura chief minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio, recently informed the state Assembly that over the last three financial years, enforcement agencies have arrested 2,729 drug peddlers and 248 individuals for drug consumption. An additional 28 traffickers remain on the run.

In response to questions from opposition legislators, CM Saha shared that the conviction rate under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act stood at 11.7% during 2022–2023, but has dropped to 5% in 2024.

Seized narcotics, under court orders, are being destroyed by the High-Level and State-Level Drug Disposal Committees at designated locations across the state, as part of the government’s broader strategy to combat the narcotics trade.

Security forces in the region remain committed to disrupting smuggling networks and working toward a drug-free Northeast, the defence PRO added.