Customs in Northeast foils major drug smuggling attempts, seized contraband items valued Rs. 30.17 Cr

In a significant crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, the officers of the Customs Preventive, NER have successfully intercepted three separate smuggling attempts, seizing substantial quantities of Methamphetamine and Heroin with an estimated market value of Rs 30.17 Crores. These operations underscore the Customs Department's unwavering commitment to combating the menace of drug smuggling and protecting the nation from illegal narcotics.

Operation 1 (Silchar): On 18 June 2025, officers of CPF, Silchar in a joint operation with the BSF intercepted an abandoned Mahindra Bolero at Panibhora on the Mizoram–Silchar road. From the said vehicle, 79 soap cases containing 885.56 grams of suspected heroin and 15 boxes containing 15 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets were recovered from a cavity constructed beneath the seat of the vehicle. The total seizure is valued at Rs 22.15 crores. Further investigation is under progress.

Operation 2 (Teliamura, Agartala): Acting on a specific information, officers of CPF, Teliamura, Agartala, along with personnel of 28 Bn, Assam Rifles, intercepted one person in a two-wheeler (Bajaj 200 NS), near Bachaibari, Kamalpur-Khowai road (NH208) at around 21:30 hrs on June 18 On search, the rider was found carrying 04 big packets containing 04.00 kgs of reddish pink tablets (suspected to be Methamphetamine) in his backpack. The goods were suspected to be smuggled in from Myanmar via Mizoram for delivery in Agartala. The total seizure is valued at Rs. 4.02 Crores. One person has been arrested.

Operation 3 (Singerbil, Agartala): On June 18, the Customs officers of Singerbil CPF, Agartala seized a consignment suspected to be Amphetamine (Yaba) Tablets total weighing 4 Kgs, which was being carried from Khowai to Vijaynagar by two persons on a black colour pulsar bike without registration number. Officers pursued the bike for approximately 30 minutes through dense vegetation before making the recovery. The tablets, suspected to be smuggled in via Mizoram-Tripura border and were to be delivered near Agartala.

Customs remains committed to combating all types of cross border crime involving smuggling of drugs and narcotics, Gold, Cigarettes, wild life articles, Fake Indian Currency Notes, import-export frauds and trade-based money laundering.  Customs works in close partnership with various other law enforcement agencies.