Two intelligence-led operations in Tripura led to the seizure of 12,26,000 methamphetamine (Yaba) tablets worth around Rs 98.08 crore in Khowai and North Tripura on Tuesday night, with the Assam Rifles, DRI and Tripura Police arresting two suspected drug peddlers and seizing two trucks. Besides, the Assam Rifles and DRI recovered 109.200 kg of methamphetamine tablets there. Officials placed the estimated value at around Rs 327 crore. In Tripura and Assam seizures, three persons were held.
At a Glance
- Tripura recorded two major methamphetamine seizures on Tuesday night.
- Agencies recovered 12,26,000 tablets in Khowai and North Tripura.
- Officials estimated the combined value at around Rs 98.08 crore.
- The Khowai operation recovered 7,26,000 tablets worth Rs 58.08 crore.
- The Panisagar operation recovered 5,00,000 tablets worth Rs 40 crore.
- Two suspected drug peddlers and two trucks were also seized in the operations.
Security agencies seized more than 12 lakh methamphetamine tablets in two separate operations in Tripura, dealing a major blow to suspected inter-state narcotics trafficking in the state.
The Assam Rifles carried out the operations with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Tripura Police on Tuesday night. The teams recovered a combined 12,26,000 methamphetamine tablets from Khowai and North Tripura districts.
Officials estimated the total value of the seized tablets at around Rs 98.08 crore. The operations also resulted in the arrest of two suspected drug peddlers and the seizure of two trucks.
Two Tripura seizures at a glance
| Location | Tablets seized | Estimated value | Arrest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khowai Choawmani, Khowai | 7,26,000 | Rs 58.08 crore | 1 |
| Panisagar, North Tripura | 5,00,000 | Rs 40 crore | 1 |
| Total | 12,26,000 | Rs 98.08 crore | 2 |
Khowai operation recovers 7.26 lakh tablets
The first operation took place in the Khowai Choawmani area of Khowai district.
The Assam Rifles and DRI recovered 7,26,000 methamphetamine tablets from the area. Officials valued the consignment at around Rs 58.08 crore.
The operation followed intelligence inputs from the Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit (ARFIU) and other sources.
The security team also apprehended a suspected drug peddler. The man is a resident of Itakhola in Assam’s Sonitpur district.
Personnel seized a truck suspected to have been used to transport the contraband.
The seizure indicates the suspected movement of a large narcotics consignment across state borders. However, the supplied information does not identify the wider trafficking network behind the consignment.
Panisagar operation adds another 5 lakh tablets
The second operation took place at Panisagar in North Tripura district.
The Assam Rifles and Tripura Police jointly recovered another 5,00,000 methamphetamine tablets.
Officials estimated the value of this consignment at around Rs 40 crore.
The joint team also apprehended a suspected drug peddler. He is a resident of Nagrmari in Assam’s Morigaon district.
A truck was also seized during the operation.
The two operations together pushed the Tripura seizure figure to 12,26,000 methamphetamine tablets in a single night of coordinated enforcement action.
Assam seizure takes overall haul beyond Rs 425 crore
The Tripura seizures were part of three operations conducted across Assam and Tripura.
In the third operation, the Assam Rifles and DRI recovered 109.200 kg of methamphetamine tablets from Ramnathpur in Assam’s Hailakandi district.
Officials valued that consignment at around Rs 327 crore.
The Assam operation also resulted in the arrest of one suspected drug peddler. Two trucks, a mobile phone, an Aadhaar card and a driving licence were seized.
Taken together, the three operations produced methamphetamine seizures worth more than Rs 425 crore.
For Tripura, however, the immediate focus remains the twin recovery of 12.26 lakh tablets from Khowai and North Tripura.
Intelligence inputs played crucial roles
The Assam Rifles Field Intelligence Unit provided inputs for the operations, officials said. Other sources also contributed intelligence.
The Assam Rifles worked with different partner agencies in the two cases.
The DRI joined the Assam Rifles in the Khowai operation. Tripura Police worked with the Assam Rifles during the Panisagar operation.
This coordination allowed the agencies to conduct separate operations in two Tripura districts.
Officials said the arrested persons, seized drugs and vehicles have been handed over to the concerned authorities.
The authorities will now conduct further investigation and take legal action.
Officials suspect Myanmar origin
Methamphetamine tablets are commonly known as Yaba or “party” tablets. They contain methamphetamine and caffeine and have a high potential for addiction.
An IANS report said officials suspect the seized consignments originated in Myanmar.
According to the officials, the consignments are believed to have entered Assam and Tripura through Mizoram.
They suspect traffickers planned to move the drugs onward to neighbouring Bangladesh or other destinations.
Officials did not provide further details about the suspected route or the people behind the consignments.
News Analysis By Enewstime Desk
The twin Tripura seizures show the importance of coordinated enforcement across agency and state boundaries. The Assam Rifles worked with the DRI in Khowai and with Tripura Police in Panisagar.
Officials also point to intelligence inputs as the basis for the action.
The latest operations form part of a wider narcotics-trafficking challenge in the Northeast.
Officials identify Mizoram and Manipur as important drug-trafficking corridors. Both states share long and porous international borders with Myanmar.
Their proximity to the Golden Triangle also adds to the regional security challenge. The Golden Triangle is a major global region associated with illicit narcotics production.
Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share around 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar.
The officials’ account places the suspected movement of the seized consignments within this broader regional geography.
The suspected Myanmar origin of the consignments adds a cross-border dimension. Officials believe the drugs entered through Mizoram before reaching Assam and Tripura.
The investigations will determine the precise source, route and network behind the seized consignments. The supplied information does not yet establish those details.
For now, the confirmed picture is significant: two operations in Tripura recovered 12,26,000 methamphetamine tablets worth around Rs 98.08 crore and led to the arrest of two suspected drug peddlers. (With IANS inputs)
