Guwahati: The Assam Rifles has foiled yet another smuggling attempt and seized a huge consignment of areca nuts within a span of three days in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district.
Troops of the paramilitary force conducting two separate operations in the district’s Machi and Khampang Khullen areas seized 28.2 tonnes of areca nuts valued at Rs 2.5 crore in the international market.
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The Assam Rifles personnel also apprehended six alleged traffickers during the operations. While the seized areca nuts were handed over to the customs department, the apprehended individuals were handed over to the Machi and Tengnoupal police, respectively.
Further investigation and legal proceedings into the matter is on.
Earlier on Tuesday (August 27, 2024), troops of the Assam Rifles had seized a staggering 61.2 tonnes of areca nuts valued at Rs 5.29 crore in the grey market from the state’s Chandel district.
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Smuggling of areca nuts from Myanmar to India is quite rampant through the porous borders of Manipur and Mizoram.
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After making its way into India, these smuggled areca nuts are then transported to other parts of the country via multimodal routes.
Despite its harmful effects, the areca nuts, also called betel nuts, are widely chewed in many parts of India.
A high-level probe was ordered in India in the year 2021 over smuggling of areca nuts from the neighbouring countries.
However, smuggling of the contraband item is going on unabated from Myanmar to India through the porous borders of the Northeastern states.