In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Assam Rifles, in coordination with the Customs Department and Tripura Police, seized a massive haul of 3.9 lakh methamphetamine tablets worth approximately Rs 78 crore in Tripura on Saturday.
The operation, which was the result of precise intelligence inputs, took place in the Gonda Twisa area in Dhalai district on Friday night. Security forces intercepted the drug consignment and arrested Rakesh Miya, a 33-year-old resident of Melaghar in Sepahijala district, who is believed to be a key drug peddler.
“This operation is a major success in our ongoing efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking and protect the youth of the region,” said an Assam Rifles spokesperson. The methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba, are notorious for their harmful effects and are a favored drug among traffickers targeting vulnerable communities.
The seizure is considered a significant blow to the drug syndicates operating in the region, especially as it highlights the strong cooperation between Assam Rifles, Customs, and Tripura Police. With Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state and the heightened security alert, this successful operation underscores the vigilance of the law enforcement agencies.
The consignment of methamphetamine tablets, which was smuggled from Myanmar, forms part of a larger trend of increasing drug smuggling in India’s northeastern states, particularly Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam. These areas are often used as corridors for trafficking drugs across the porous, unfenced 1,643 km-long border with Myanmar.
Between November and December 2024, various drugs, including heroin and methamphetamine tablets, valued at Rs 280 crore, were seized in these states. Investigations are ongoing to dismantle the larger drug syndicate behind this operation.
This raid adds to the momentum of efforts to curb cross-border drug trafficking and establishes Tripura as a key player in securing the northeastern region from illicit drug trade.