areca nuts in Kohima
The seized areca nuts and the apprehended individuals.

Security forces in a joint operation with Nagaland Police seized three trucks carrying illegal areca nuts on Saturday.

The trucks were seized at Paramedical Colony in Nagaland’s Kohima district on Saturday, a defence release said on Sunday.

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Seven people were apprehended in this connection.

Also read: Assam Rifles recovers 370 bags of smuggled areca nuts in Mizoram, nabs 3

Based on a specific input, the security forces and the Nagaland Police apprehended the seven persons along with three truckloads of illegal areca nuts from the area.

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It was estimated that the seized areca nuts, weighing 264 tons, would cost around Rs 1.58 crore in the market.

The apprehended individuals were handed over to the customs department along with the seized areca nuts.

Illegal areca nuts are seized by security forces in different parts of the Northeast.

Also read: Nagaland calls for high-level testing for Covid-19 within schools

On Wednesday, Assam Rifles recovered 240 bags of areca nuts worth Rs 46,79,200 in Mizoram’s Champhai district.

The operation was carried out by a joint team of Assam Rifles and Customs Department of Champhai, based on specific information.

“Approximate cost of the recovered Areca Nuts is Rs 46,79,200. As the Customs Department, Champhai seized the contraband items on 22 Sep 2021 for further legal proceedings,” the Assam Rifles said in a release.

“Ongoing smuggling of drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram, especially along the India-Myanmar border,” Assam Rifles said.