Manipur: DRI, Assam Rifles seize heroin worth Rs 5.85 crore, arrest two

Imphal: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in a coordinated operation with the Assam Rifles, arrested two alleged inter-state drug smugglers from Manipur, dealing a major blow to drug trafficking networks in the region.

According to an official report, the two drug traffickers, residents of Manipur's Chandel district, were arrested along with 64 soap cases containing heroin worth around Rs 5.85 crore in the regional black market.

Officials said on Friday that, acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding illicit drug movement, the joint team intercepted a vehicle near Sonabarighat in Cachar district of Assam, which borders Manipur to the east.

The traffickers, hailing from Chandel district, were traveling from the Manipur side.

Two drug smugglers, whose names were withheld, were apprehended during the operation, which lasted approximately three hours. The vehicle used for transporting the contraband items, along with two mobile phones, was seized.

A defence spokesperson noted that Manipur's Chandel district shares an unfenced border with Myanmar.

This highlights the strategic importance of such operations in curbing cross-border drug smuggling.

The spokesperson further stated that the Assam Rifles continues to play a critical role in combating narcotics in the Northeast, conducting coordinated operations with other enforcement agencies to dismantle trafficking networks and safeguard youth from drug abuse.

The spokesperson added that the successful seizure underscores the commitment of security forces to strengthening border vigilance and tackling the growing menace of narcotics in the region.