Aizawl: Assam Rifles recovered a large consignment of contraband, including 90 bags of poppy seeds and 120 bags of areca nuts, valued at around Rs 1 crore, in Mizoram, officials confirmed on Monday.
The seizure took place during a targeted search operation in the Farlui Road area of Ruantlang in Champhai district, close to the Myanmar border, following specific intelligence inputs.
The contraband has since been handed over to the Customs Preventive Force, Champhai, for further investigation and legal action.
A defence spokesperson said the operation underscores Assam Rifles’ commitment to curbing illegal trade and maintaining law and order along the northeastern border.
“This recovery reflects our zero-tolerance approach towards illicit activities that threaten the region’s socio-economic stability,” the statement said.
Officials noted that the seized poppy seeds and areca nuts were smuggled from Myanmar and were reportedly intended for distribution to other Indian states.
Poppy cultivation, often linked to opium production, is considered a major source of illicit drugs in the region.
Estimates suggest that an acre of poppy cultivation can yield three to four kilograms of opium, with one kilogram fetching Rs 4-5 lakh on the black market.
Meanwhile, the smuggling of Burmese betel nuts has adversely affected local farmers in northeastern states, who face difficulties selling their produce at competitive prices.
Areca nut cultivators in Tripura and Assam have previously staged protests against the inflow of smuggled nuts from Myanmar.
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The border districts of Mizoram — Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip — share a combined 510 km frontier with Myanmar’s Chin state, a known hub for trafficking of drugs, exotic wildlife, and other contraband.
Security forces in Manipur and Assam routinely conduct operations to destroy illegal poppy cultivation as part of the government’s ‘War on Drugs’ initiative.
Authorities have also linked the ethnic unrest in Manipur since May 2023 to illegal immigrants from Myanmar, who have reportedly engaged in illicit poppy cultivation after settling in the state.
Myanmar’s 1,643 km unfenced border with Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram continues to serve as a critical route for the entry of drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine tablets, into India.
