NEW DELHI: Continuing its crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), has busted a major drug smuggling syndicate in the North-East, resulting in one of the biggest seizures of methamphetamine in the region.
The seizure has an estimated illicit street value running into several hundred crore rupees. The intelligence-led operation involved coordinated surveillance and simultaneous interception at multiple locations, leading to the seizure of a large consignment of methamphetamine.
More than 231 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets were found hidden in the roofs of four trucks in Assam and Tripura, exposing a major drug trafficking network in the Northeast.
The DRI seized the drugs in a coordinated operation on September 15. Three people were arrested.
The operation began after DRI received specific intelligence about the movement of methamphetamine tablets.
In the first action, officers intercepted a truck at Ramnathpur in Assam. The location is about 100 km from Silchar. The operation was carried out with the help of the 38 Battalion of Assam Rifles.
A search of the truck led to the recovery of 275 packets. They weighed 55 kg and contained pinkish-orange tablets suspected to be methamphetamine. The tablets were hidden inside the roof of the driver’s cabin.
A second truck was found nearby. Its driver and helper were not at the spot. A search of the vehicle led to another 271 packets. They weighed 54.2 kg.
The two trucks together carried 109.2 kg of suspected methamphetamine.
One person was arrested in the case.
At the same time, DRI teams tracked another goods carrier in Tripura. The truck was carrying a declared load of cement. It was stopped at Teliamura, about 45 km from Agartala. The operation was carried out with the help of the 28 Battalion of Assam Rifles.
A search found 72.6 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets. The tablets were again hidden in the roof of the driver’s cabin. The driver was arrested.
The probe then led officers to another truck linked to the same network. It was intercepted near Panisagar in Tripura. The search found another 50 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets hidden in the vehicle. The driver was arrested.
Four trucks have been seized. The DRI said the total seizure was 231.8 kg of suspected methamphetamine. Three people were arrested in the operation.
The size of the seizure also points to the scale of drug movement through the region. Methamphetamine is a powerful synthetic drug. Its illegal use can cause serious health problems, including dependence and damage to the heart and brain.
The latest action follows two DRI operations in August. In those cases, teams near Silchar and Mizoram seized another 76 kg of methamphetamine tablets.
The drugs were also found hidden inside vehicles. The repeated use of vehicles to conceal large quantities of methamphetamine has raised concern over organised trafficking routes through the Northeast.
The DRI said the latest operation was based on intelligence and involved surveillance at several locations. Further investigation is under way to identify others linked to the network.
