Indian agencies say raids across Northeast broke India–Myanmar drug network; 18 arrested, 1,424 bank accounts frozen

Photo: Heroin seized in Mizoram State. According to a statement made by the Mizoram Home Minister during a press conference on October 26—as well as reports from local newspapers—18 suspects were arrested and 1,424 bank accounts were closed as part of an operation to dismantle networks involved in the cross-border trafficking of narcotics and the illicit flow of funds between India and Myanmar. (Mizoram Police)

Mizzima

Indian agencies arrested 18 people and froze 1,424 bank accounts in a coordinated operation against a drug trafficking and money-laundering network linked to Myanmar, officials said.

India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led “Operation Trident” with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Mizoram Police on 23 October, using 38 teams at 38 locations in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur, according to ANI and other Indian outlets.

The raids covered Aizawl, Champhai, Lawngtlai and the border trade hub Zokhawthar in Mizoram, as well as Churachandpur in Manipur and Guwahati in Assam, the draft says.

Officials said the operation uncovered about ₹100 crore (about US$10.5 million) in hawala transactions, attached properties worth ₹17.82 crore (about US$1.9 million), and seized 500 detonators and ₹12 lakh (about US$12,600) in cash. Authorities in Mizoram said five people from Assam and Manipur were arrested, the NCB said it arrested seven in Aizawl and Champhai, and the ED said it arrested six in Mizoram, Manipur and Gujarat under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED said heroin and methamphetamine tablets from Myanmar entered through Mizoram and Manipur and were distributed locally and trafficked through Assam to other parts of India and to Bangladesh. The Print reported the ED also alleges more than 40 tonnes of chemical precursors were routed from Gujarat to Myanmar via Mizoram.

A Myanmar national living in Mizoram told Mizzima that people he knows who send money to Myanmar had their bank accounts frozen though no one among them was arrested, and that they are not involved in drug trafficking. Mizzima could not verify this, and it is unclear how many of the account holders are Myanmar nationals.

Mizoram Police said they will keep acting against international and interstate drug networks and the laundering of their proceeds. Home Minister Amit Shah said on 25 October that the operation was “another lethal blow” to drug cartels. The government has set a goal of a drug-free India by 31 December 2029.