Aizawl, May 19 (IANS) Mizoram Police have seized a huge consignment of highly addictive methamphetamine tablets valued at over Rs 19.21 crore and arrested two alleged drug peddlers, both residents of neighbouring Manipur, officials said on Tuesday.

A police official said that a white-coloured car proceeding from Manipur towards Aizawl was intercepted and searched on the outskirts of Keifang junction in Saitual district on suspicion of carrying illegal contraband items.

Upon conducting a thorough search of the vehicle, police recovered 20 bundles of methamphetamine tablets totalling 2.02 lakh tablets, weighing 24.016 kg, with an estimated market value of over Rs 19.21 crore, the official said.

The drugs were concealed inside the rear portion of the vehicle, beneath the spare tyre compartment, and on both sides beyond the mudguard area, wrapped in black polythene sheets.

The methamphetamine tablets were seized from the possession of two accused, identified as Th. Onkhothang Haokip (33) and Mathew (46), residents of Chandel and Churachandpur districts of Manipur, respectively.

The contraband items, along with the vehicle used to transport them, were seized, and both accused were arrested on the spot.

A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

Mizoram has emerged as a major corridor for trafficking drugs and other contraband items in Northeast India due to its long and unfenced international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Among the most commonly smuggled narcotic substances from Myanmar are highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, popularly known as Yaba or “party tablets”, and heroin.

Often referred to as the “crazy drug”, Yaba tablets contain a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine and are strictly prohibited in India.

Officials said that such illegal consignments are frequently smuggled through six Mizoram districts: Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip.

–IANS

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