In one of the biggest anti-smuggling crackdowns of recent months, the Assam Rifles has seized contraband items worth ₹8.7 crore during a series of operations across Mizoram over the past two days. Ten individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, officials confirmed on Sunday.
According to security sources, the operations were carried out across multiple districts, including Aizawl and Champhai, both of which are known to be vulnerable points for cross-border smuggling. The seizures underline the persistent challenges Mizoram faces due to its porous international border with Myanmar.
On Friday, Assam Rifles personnel intercepted three trucks on the outskirts of Aizawl and another heavy commercial vehicle in Seiling, Aizawl district. The checks led to the recovery of 650 bags of white poppy seeds and 35 cartons of foreign-origin cigarettes. Officials estimated the consignment to be worth approximately ₹5.9 crore. Seven people were apprehended on the spot for transporting the goods.
In a separate but coordinated operation the same day, another team of Assam Rifles conducted checks in Champhai district’s Tlangsam village. There, the force recovered 146 cases of smuggled foreign cigarettes, valued at around ₹2.8 crore. Three individuals linked to the consignment were arrested.
With these recoveries, the total value of seized contraband reached ₹8.7 crore. All 10 arrested persons, along with the confiscated items, have been handed over to the Customs Department and the State Legal Metrology Department for further legal proceedings.
