Assam Rifles Halt Rs 2.4 Crore Areca Nut Smuggling Operation in Manipur

Assam Rifles have successfully intercepted a massive consignment of illegal areca nuts worth Rs 2.4 crore in Manipur. The operation took place in Khuga village, where 350 sacks of the nuts were seized from four vehicles, foiling a cross-border smuggling attempt.

In a decisive operation aiming to thwart cross-border smuggling, Assam Rifles apprehended a major cache of illegal areca nuts in Manipur, valued at Rs 2.4 crore. According to a press release, the seizure occurred in the Khuga village of Churachandpur district on November 1.

The breakthrough came after Assam Rifles received specific intelligence inputs, leading them to intercept a convoy at the Khuga vehicle check post. Upon inspection, the convoy was revealed to be transporting 350 sacks of illegal areca nuts concealed under covers and cartons. 'On Nov 1, three goods carrier trucks and one Tata DI loaded with illegal areca nuts tried to cross Khuga Village at around 2 am,' reads the official release. Acting on intelligence, Assam Rifiles foiled this smuggling attempt.

Subsequent to the interception, all four vehicles involved in the smuggling operation were detained. Following a joint interrogation conducted by Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, the vehicles have been turned over to the Divisional Forest Officer of Churachandpur district. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)