New Delhi, January 8 (). The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized a huge drug consignment coming from Hatchin city of Myanmar and arrested two smugglers with 7.31 kg of heroin worth approximately Rs 15 crore. An official gave this information on Thursday.
The smugglers were trying to smuggle the heroin into India by hiding it in 638 soap boxes, the official said in a statement.
The operation was part of the intensified crackdown by the NCB on cross-border drug smuggling from Myanmar. The agency said it has significantly increased surveillance and enforcement on sensitive routes in the north-eastern region.
According to the NCB, constant vigilance and strict enforcement on traditional smuggling routes has forced drug gangs to abandon traditional corridors and rely more on dense forests and river routes to avoid being caught.
Highlighting this trend, the NCB said its Guwahati regional unit had seized about 7 kg of heroin in Jiribam last month, reflecting the changing nature of trafficking and underscoring the impact of inter-regional coordination and intelligence-based operations.
In this background, and based on specific intelligence gathered over a long period of time, NCB Imphal Zonal Unit took prompt action and busted an international drug trafficking ring operating from Myanmar to Manipur.
On January 7, NCB Imphal intercepted a Bolero vehicle near the India-Myanmar border and arrested two persons, identified as Ginkhavmalian, resident of Mata, Multam district, Churachandpur district of Manipur and Mangboi Simte, resident of Mata, Multam district, same district.
NCB said that during a detailed search of the vehicle, 7.312 kg of high quality heroin hidden in 638 soap boxes was recovered.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the seized narcotics came from Hatchin in Myanmar and were being smuggled through forest corridors of Manipur to avoid urban surveillance systems, police checkpoints and security camps.
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