Assam: Large Quantity of Burmese Areca Nut Seized

LUMDING: A large amount of supari of Burmese origins was seized at the Lumding Railway Junction. The consignment was captured during an operation carried out by the personnel from the Government Railway Police Department.

Teams from the Government Railway Police (GRP) carried out an operation in two trains that halted at the Lumding Railway Junction. And they were able to confiscate a total of 24 bags loaded with the contraband. The operation was carried out under the supervision of the officer in charge of the Government Railway Police in Lumding.

The search operations were carried out on the Avadh Assam Express and the Tinsukia-Lumding Passenger trains. The contraband was found in the general class coaches of the trains. The officials informed that the total price of the captured consignment is around Rs 5 lakhs and that an investigation is underway to find the people responsible for the people.

The illegal Burmese supari trade in Assam and other states of northeast India has become a growing concern in recent years. The term "supari" refers to areca nuts that are often used in the production of betel quid, a popular chewing substance. These areca nuts are illegally imported from neighbouring Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) and are distributed across various states in northeast India. This trade poses several challenges and concerns for the region. One of the primary issues with the illegal Burmese supari trade is that it operates outside the boundaries of legal import and export channels.

This trade undermines the legitimate businesses that are engaged in the cultivation and trade of betel nuts within India, as well as the revenue that could be generated for the government through taxes and duties. Furthermore, the illegal Burmese supari trade has serious health implications. Betel nut consumption has been linked to several health risks, including oral cancer. According to research, betel quid-chewing, which often includes areca nuts, has been identified as a high-risk factor for oral cancer.

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