Manipur: Assam Rifles seize areca nuts worth Rs 5.29 crore in Chandel

Guwahati: Assam Rifles personnel stationed along the Indo-Myanmar border in Manipur on Tuesday (August 27) thwarted yet another cross-border smuggling attempt of a large consignment of areca nuts.

Based on intelligence input, troops of the paramilitary force put up a mobile check post in Chandel district’s Chehyang village, and intercepted the vehicles transporting the consignment.

A staggering 61.2 tonnes of areca nuts, valued at Rs 5.29 crore in the international market, were recovered from as many as 18 vehicles. 

The operation was carried out as part of the Assam Rifles's ongoing efforts to monitor and control illegal activities along the international border. 

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The confiscated items and vehicles along with its occupants were later handed over to the forest department for further investigation.

Smuggled areca nuts often make their way into India through the porous Indo-Myanmar borders and then transported to different parts of the country by different modes of transport. 

Areca nuts are widely chewed in many parts of India despite its harmful effects. A high-level probe was ordered in India in 2021 over smuggling of areca nuts from the neighbouring countries. 

However, trafficking of the contraband item is going on unabated posing as a major challenge before the law enforcement agencies.