‘Biggest’ drug haul by Border Security Force (BSF), DRI in Northeast

Agartala: In a big jolt to the narcotic syndicate, a joint team of Border Security Force (BSF) and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 1,68,500 Yaba tablets worth around Rs 8.52 crore – ‘biggest’ consignment of narcotic drug in the northeastern region so far.

The BSF, who is mandated to guard 4,096 km India-Bangladesh border, seized the consignment on Thursday 9 pm from the house Tunu Miah, a resident of Matinagar village in West Tripura.

The consignment was stored in Miah’s house for smuggling it across the border to Bangladesh.

“Acting on specific intelligence input provided by BSF intelligence branch about storing of huge consignment of narcotic drugs in the house of Tunu Miah, a joint team of BSF troops and DRI officials, Agartala swiftly cordoned the house. During a thorough search in the presence of two independent witnesses, the raiding party recovered two cartons and a polythene bag containing a huge quantity of Yaba tablets,” a BSF statement said.

The cartons and polythene bags were opened leading to recovery and seizure of 1,68,500 Yaba tablets worth around Rs 8.52 crore along with two Maruti cars, which were being used for transportation of the consignment, said the statement.

“The BSF along with DRI, Agartala has given the first big jolt to the narcotic syndicate on the second day of the Year 2020 by seizing the biggest consignment of Yaba in the North-Eastern Region so far.”

The BSF statement, however, clarified that Miah is currently residing at Bishalgarh, a town located in the Sepahijala district of Tripura, and has given his house to his nephew Soyag Miah.

“On observing joint operation teams of BSF and DRI approaching near the house, the occupants managed to run away, taking advantage of darkness.”

The seized items have been handed over to the DRI, Agartala, for further legal action, said the statement.

Besides this operation, the statement said, BSF troops deployed along the Bangladesh border in Tripura, have also seized contraband such as 1,145 bottles of phensedyl, 31 kg ganja (marijuana), three cattle and other miscellaneous items having combined market value of over Rs 14.69 lakh along with Bangladesh taka 1,00,000 on Thursday.

The police chiefs of eight northeastern States last month have decided to intensify their efforts to curb the drug menace as the region, bordering China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, have turned into a corridor for drug smuggling.

Senior IPS officer Rakesh Asthana, Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau, presided over the meeting of the Director Generals of Police of eight northeastern States in Agartala.

Top officials of the BSF, Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, intelligence agencies and other law enforcing agencies also attended the meeting.

Four northeastern States of Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam share an 1,880-km border with Bangladesh, while Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640-km unfenced border with Myanmar.

Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also share 1080 km and 220.35 frontiers with China, respectively, while Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have 267 km, 217 km and 32 km borders, respectively, with Bhutan. Sikkim has also 97.80 km borders with Nepal. (IANS)

Also Watch: Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses media ahead BJP Booth Committee President’s Conference