Dibrugarh: The 21 Assam Rifles, along with Arunachal Pradesh Police, apprehended two Myanmar nationals near Nongkey Village under Nampong police station in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district on Friday.
“The team also recovered substances suspected to be brown sugar weighing 130.09 grams, which is worth Rs 26 lakhs in the international market. Both individuals are in police custody at Nampong police station. Presently, interrogation of the arrested duo is under progress,” said an official.
Sharing on X, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung said, “Another major blow to cross-border drug trafficking. In a well-coordinated joint operation based on credible intelligence, the Changlang District Police and 21 Assam Rifles successfully intercepted two foreign nationals under Nampong P.S. and seized 130.9 grams of suspected heroin concealed in 10 soap cases.”
“I appreciate the dedicated efforts of the Changlang Police and Assam Rifles in this successful operation. Our fight against narcotics will continue until we dismantle these illicit networks and secure a safe and drug-free Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh Police
The Assam Rifles – Sentinels of the North East,” he said.
Security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have started a massive crackdown against the narcotics trade and have so far arrested many individuals associated with the illegal trade and seized a huge quantity of drugs from them.
Sources said Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh has now become one of the transit routes for the drug trade and that drugs are being transported very easily from Myanmar.
“Changlang shares its international border with Myanmar. Myanmar is known for drugs because most of the illegal drug factories function in Myanmar. It has been a very big racket, and many people are associated with the narcotics trade,” said a source.
Myanmar is the world’s largest producer of illicit opium and has been a significant cog in the transnational drug trade since World War II.
The Golden Triangle is a remote border region where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet, historically known as one of the world’s largest hubs for illicit opium and heroin production.
Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang has now emerged as a new route for drug trafficking.
“The drugs entered Changlang through Myanmar and are then transported to Tinsukia and Upper Assam,” he said.
The arrest of two Myanmar nationals has once again brought the whole narcotics trade into the spotlight.
“The insurgent groups of the Northeast are also associated with the drug trade and help the drug smugglers in identifying the routes through which they transport the contraband items into the Indian border,” said a source.