Mizoram: Burmese areca nuts worth Rs 1.1 crore seized in Champhai

Aizawl: A team of Assam Rifles, Mizoram excise department and central customs seized suspected heroin and smuggled Burmese areca nuts worth Rs. 1.48 crore in two separate operations in Champhai district.

A statement by Assam Rifles said that they seized around 51.5 grams of heroin worth Rs 36 lakh from the possession of Lalrempuia (25) at Zote village, it said.

The seizure and arrest were made based on specific intelligence inputs.

In another operation, Assam Rifles and Customs Preventive Force also seized smuggled Burmese areca nuts worth over Rs. 1.1 crore in the Keifantlang area. 

The areca nuts were being smuggled in trucks.

Security forces also prevented similar cross-border smuggling attempts of areca nuts in Manipur in less than 48 hours.

Based on specific input, the Assam Rifles activated a column to foil the smuggling attempt.

During the operation, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Manipur Police intercepted a convoy of four vehicles at the check post, set up by the team at Churachandpur district’s Khuga village, in the wee hours of November 1.

During a thorough check of the vehicles, as many as 350 bags of areca nuts, hidden under covers and cartons, were recovered from the four goods carriers.

The consignment of areca nuts, valued at Rs 2.4 crore in the grey market, the apprehended individuals and the vehicles were later handed over to the divisional forest officer in Churachandpur.