West Tripura: In a significant operation against smuggling, the Assam Rifles, in collaboration with the Customs Department, seized gold bars and unfinished ornaments from Badarghat in the West Tripura district on Saturday. The operation resulted in the recovery of 14 gold bars and ornaments weighing 1.15 kg, valued at approximately Rs 1.02 crore in the international market. Based on specific intelligence, the joint team coordinated the operation and apprehended two suspects, who, along with the seized gold, were handed over to the authorities for legal proceedings.
In another operation on the same day, Assam Rifles and the Customs Department seized 2,286.9 kg of marijuana from the Vijayanagar area of West Tripura. This successful operation, executed based on specific intelligence, dealt a substantial blow to local smuggling networks, with the contraband being valued at around Rs 10.29 crores on the international market. Two individuals were also apprehended and turned over to authorities for further legal action.
Additionally, Assam Rifles, in cooperation with the Customs Preventive Force in Mizoram, seized counterfeit cigarettes valued at Rs 42.5 lakh in the Chhungte area. Following intelligence reports, security forces conducted a patrol towards Ruantlang on February 22 and found 1,250 cartons of counterfeit cigarettes hidden in a forest. The contraband has since been handed over to customs officials for further investigation, highlighting ongoing efforts to fight illicit trade in the region.
Earlier in the week, on February 18, the Assam Rifles and Zokhawthar Police intercepted a large quantity of narcotics in Vangkai, Zokhawthar, Champhai district, Mizoram. Acting on specific intelligence, they seized 7.1 kg of methamphetamine tablets and 3.1 kg of crystal methamphetamine, collectively worth about Rs 71.15 crore. One suspect, identified as Vanlalruaia (59) from Chhinga Veng, Aizawl, was arrested, and both the individual and the drugs were handed over to the Zokhawthar Police for further investigation and legal proceedings.