Aizawl, June 30 (IANS) The Assam Rifles, in two separate joint operations with the Mizoram Police, seized a large consignment of heroin worth more than Rs 7.40 crore and arrested three alleged drug peddlers, including a woman, officials said on Tuesday.

A Defence spokesman said that acting on specific intelligence inputs received from a sister intelligence agency, the Assam Rifles, in coordination with the Mizoram Police, conducted a successful joint operation at Ngopa along the Khawzawl-Sinzawl Road (National Highway-102B) in Saitual district.

During the operation, the joint team recovered 64 soap cases containing heroin weighing nearly 837 grams, with an estimated market value of Rs 6.277 crore, from a Bolero pickup vehicle.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the contraband had been transported from Manipur’s Churachandpur district for further distribution in Aizawl.

The narcotics were recovered from multiple concealed compartments inside the vehicle.

Two alleged drug peddlers, identified as Ajijur Rehman (25) and Sabir Hussain Barbhuiya (36), were apprehended during the operation.

Both the accused, residents of Assam’s Cachar district, along with the seized narcotics, were handed over to the Mizoram Police for further investigation and necessary legal action.

In another operation, acting on specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of narcotics through the Seling Check Post in Aizawl district, troops of the Assam Rifles and the Mizoram Police (Seling Check Post under Bawngkawn Police Station) launched a swift, intelligence-based and meticulously planned joint operation.

During the operation, the joint team apprehended a woman from Manipur’s Chandel district who was allegedly carrying narcotic substances for illegal transportation.

The operation led to the recovery of heroin weighing nearly 150.97 grams, concealed in soap cases, with an estimated market value of around Rs 1.13 crore.

One mobile phone was also seized from her possession.

The recovered narcotic substances, along with the apprehended woman, were handed over to the Mizoram Police in Aizawl district for further investigation and legal proceedings.

An official statement said that the successful operations once again highlighted the unwavering commitment, operational preparedness and close coordination between the Assam Rifles and sister agencies in combating narco-trafficking in Mizoram.

The statement said the force remains steadfast in its efforts to secure the India-Myanmar border and maintain peace and stability in the region.

Mizoram shares a 510-km unfenced border with Myanmar and a 318-km unfenced border with Bangladesh.

Five districts of Manipur — Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Kamjong and Ukhrul — together share a 398-km unfenced international border with Myanmar.

Both Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as major drug trafficking corridors in the Northeast because of their long unfenced international borders with Myanmar, which forms part of the notorious ‘Golden Triangle’ region, a major source of illicit narcotics.

–IANS

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