Assam Rifles Crack Down on Smuggling, Seize Contraband Worth Crores in Mizoram

Assam Rifles, with Customs Preventive Force, seized counterfeit cigarettes worth Rs 42.5 lakh in Mizoram. They also intercepted and confiscated narcotics valued at Rs 71.15 crore, capturing a suspect. The crackdown highlights efforts against illicit trade. Seized items were referred to authorities for investigation.

In a significant crackdown on smuggling activities, Assam Rifles, in collaboration with the Customs Preventive Force in Champhai, seized counterfeit cigarettes valued at Rs 42.5 lakh in Mizoram's Chhungte area. According to the Assam Rifles, the operation, based on specific intelligence, led security forces to launch an area domination patrol near Ruantlang on February 22, where they discovered 1,250 cartons of fake cigarettes concealed in a jungle area.

The confiscated contraband has been transferred to the Customs authorities for further investigation. This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat illicit trade in the region. Just days earlier, on February 18, the Assam Rifles, alongside Zokhawthar Police, uncovered a substantial cache of narcotics in the general area of Vangkai, Zokhawthar, Champhai district, Mizoram.

Acting on targeted intelligence, security forces intercepted the narcotics consignment, seizing 7.1 kg of Methamphetamine tablets and 3.1 kg of Crystal Methamphetamine, with a market value estimated at Rs 71.15 crore. Authorities apprehended Vanlalruaia, a 59-year-old resident of Chhinga Veng, Aizawl, in connection with the seizure. The individual and the recovered contraband were handed over to Zokhawthar Police for continued investigation and legal proceedings.