IMPHAL (Manipur), Apr 3: Officials of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) along with Assam Rifles personnel in a joint operation seized 3, 20,000 banned methamphetamine tablets from a person travelling on a bus on the Imphal-Moreh road on 2 April.
The banned drug, popularly known as ‘World is Yours (WY)’, was found concealed in a secret cavity under the driver’s and the co-driver’ seat of the bus, which was coming from Moreh.
The drug was smuggled into India through the India-Myanmar border and was being transported from Moreh to Lilong.
One Mohammad Iliyas Khan, a resident of Mayang Imphal, has been arrested under the NDPS Act, according to a press release issued by Kolkata-based DRI Deputy Director, Sudhanshu Rai.
“Methamphetamine is manufactured in the Golden Triangle region, particularly in labs in Myanmar. Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, a common cold drug, is the precursor chemical that is used for its manufacture,” the release said.
The DRI is the lead agency that combats cross-border crime involving smuggling of gold, consumer goods, drugs and narcotics, wildlife articles, fake Indian currency notes and counterfeit goods, besides import-export frauds, and trade-based money laundering.
The Northeastern region, which shares borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and China, is particularly sensitive from the perspective of smuggling activities and cross-border crimes.
Combating cross-border crimes in this region poses various challenges on account of factors such as rugged topography and porosity of the borders, lack of economic opportunities, and the lure of easy money.
‘To overcome these challenges, the DRI has joined hands with various formations, such as the customs department, the Assam Rifles, the BSF, state police agencies, and the Forests and Wild Life Crime Control Bureau in the region to further the cause of enforcement,’ the release added.
