Aizawl: Ten trucks seized by Young Lai Association (YLA) volunteers in Lawngtlai district on Tuesday over suspected illegal smuggling to Myanmar have been returned to a dealer in Aizawl, a senior district administration official said on Sunday.South Mizoram’s Lawngtlai deputy commissioner Donny Lalruatsanga told TOI on the phone that the seized trucks were handed over to Zothan Auto Works in Aizawl after the dealer signed an undertaking that none of its vehicles would be sold for illegal smuggling to Myanmar.“The truck dealer signed the undertaking even after arguing that the ones who purchased the trucks from him should sign the document,” Lalruatsanga said.The trucks, which had not yet been registered, were seized by YLA volunteers in the Lawngtlai AOC Veng locality early Tuesday. YLA is the main civil society organisation in Lawngtlai district, which borders Myanmar and Bangladesh.The seizure followed a meeting of Lawngtlai district administration officials and stakeholders chaired by the deputy commissioner to discuss reports of vehicle thefts and the purchase of new vehicles for illegal cross-border trade.An order issued by the district magistrate on Sept 23 prohibited illegal export of stolen or newly purchased Indian vehicles to Myanmar. The order followed a Sept 21 meeting on illegal cross-border trade and the transportation of goods.The deputy commissioner called for an investigation into reports of vehicles purchased or operated in the names of non-Indian citizens, stolen vehicles and illegal sales or transfers. He also called for strict enforcement of laws governing the cross-border movement of vehicles.
