Imphal: The Assam Rifles while foiling yet another cross-border smuggling attempt seized 70 sacks of areca nuts at Moreh in Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border.
During a routine check on Wednesday by setting up a mobile check post at Moreh’s New Mongjang Road junction, troops of the central paramilitary force noticed a vehicle approaching the new Mongjang village from Moreh.
After seeing the security forces at the junction, the vehicle stopped at a distance and kept waiting.
This raised suspicion prompting the commander to direct the troops to advance towards the vehicle with full precaution.
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On seeing the troops approaching them, two occupants of the vehicle fled towards the nearby jungle abandoning the vehicle.
During a thorough search of the vehicle, the troops found 70 sacks of areca nuts hidden under cartons containing food items.
The consignment of areca nuts, estimated to be worth Rs 30.24 lakh in the international market, and the vehicle were immediately seized by the troops.
The seized items were later handed over to the custom preventive force in Moreh for further investigation.