Aizawl: Mizoram Police have seized heroin, methamphetamine, suspected wildlife contraband and illegally smuggled areca nuts worth over Rs 6 crore in a series of operations across the state over the past few days, an official statement said on Thursday.The largest seizure was made by the Champhai Police Special Task Force on the night of July 7, when it intercepted a car with an Assam registration number that was travelling towards Champhai district.Police said the vehicle, driven by Rajiv Hussein Laskar (26) and accompanied by Jinuk Uddin Laskar (30), both residents of Silchar in Assam’s Cachar district, was found carrying nine bags containing about 210 kg of suspected dehydrated manta ray (Mobula) gill plates concealed inside the vehicle.Police estimated the international black-market value of the consignment at Rs 2.30 crore and described it as one of the largest such seizures in Mizoram.As the recovered items are suspected to have been obtained from species protected under wildlife laws, the seized consignment, vehicle and the two accused were handed over to the divisional forest officer, Champhai Forest Division, for scientific examination and further legal action.In another operation on July 6, a joint team of the Aizawl District Special Branch and the 34 Assam Rifles seized 1.955 kg of suspected methamphetamine worth about Rs 1.60 crore from Marcus Lalvenpuia (19) of Luimawi village in Mamit district at Lawipu, Aizawl. Police said a case has been registered and investigation is in progress.On July 8, a special team of Saitual district police intercepted a truck at the Kualmawi check gate during routine checking. The driver attempted to flee but was apprehended after a brief chase.A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 102 grams of suspected heroin, packed in nine soap cases and concealed inside the truck. The contraband, estimated to be worth about Rs 20.40 lakh in the illicit market, was seized from Fulchand Ali Mondal (35) of Dhubri district. Further investigation is underway.In a separate operation on July 7, police intercepted a car travelling from Zokhawthar to Aizawl and recovered 26 grams of suspected heroin concealed inside a pot kept beneath the rear seat. The drugs were allegedly in the possession of Lalrinchhana (20) of Khawmawi, Myanmar.A day earlier, Zokhawthar police intercepted a car travelling on the same route and seized 48 grams of suspected heroin concealed in a sling bag belonging to Thuanmawia (42), a resident of Tshambhari village in Myanmar’s Falam district who was staying at Tiau, in Khawmawi, Myanmar.Meanwhile, on July 5, personnel at the Champhai Khankawn police check gate intercepted a tank lorry and seized 2,960 kg of dry areca nuts valued at about Rs 10.36 lakh, suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar.Police said the driver failed to produce valid documents for transporting the consignment. The seized areca nuts and the vehicle were handed over to the customs preventive force in Champhai for further legal action.
