DRI seizes 60,000 kg smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 60,000 kg of smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts in the north-east region, arresting five individuals and disrupting a significant smuggling operation.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 60,000 kg of smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts in the north-east region and arrested five persons, the finance ministry said on Friday.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI conducted operations in Mizoram and Assam, which led to these seizures.

Initial investigations revealed that foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through the Myanmar-Mizoram border.

In one of the operations, DRI was assisted by 38Bn of Assam Rifles. So far, 5 people have been arrested in these operations.

The illegal influx of the areca nut from the neighbouring country is causing severe economic damage to domestic areca nut growers and undermining economic security in the border regions.