Kolkata/Imphal, Aug 21 (IANS) The Assam Rifles, under the Spear Corps of the Army’s Eastern Command, made a major narcotics seizure in Manipur on Friday. Six people were apprehended in this connection.
The raid was conducted with assistance from the Manipur Police and other agencies, sources said.
“Strengthening the fight against narcotics, Assam Rifles under Spear Corps, in a joint operation with state police, intercepted a boat carrying contraband at Jiribam, Manipur. Six individuals were apprehended following a swift pursuit, leading to the recovery of 90,000 Yaba tablets valued at approximately Rs 27 crore and 48 g of heroin worth Rs 28.80 lakh. The successful operation delivers a significant blow to narcotics trafficking networks and reaffirms the commitment of the security forces towards a safer and drug-free region,” the Corps posted on X.
The proliferation of Yaba has turned into a major problem in the country. The drug, which gets its name from “crazy medicine” in the Thai language, is a combination of methamphetamine – a powerful and addictive stimulant – and caffeine.
“The drugs enter from across the porous border and are not only used by addicts in the northeastern states, but travel across the country. Yaba tablets have been seized in West Bengal from smugglers planning to send them across the border to Bangladesh,” an official said.
Security agencies in India have unearthed a distinct connection between the trafficking of narcotics and terrorism. “Yaba, treated as a party drug by youngsters, can be deadly. They can increase heart rate and blood pressure, damage the small blood vessels in the brain and lead to strokes. Overdoses can cause hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), convulsions, and death. Individuals who use Yaba also may have episodes of violent behaviour, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. The seizure was a major success in the government’s Nasha Mukt Bharat plan,” the official said.
The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary unit that operates under the Army and is entrusted with guarding India’s border with Myanmar, apart from counter-insurgency operations. The troops carry out intelligence-based operations to intercept consignments of narcotics and weapons.
–IANS
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