72.51 Kg Meth Tablets Worth ₹58 Crore Recovered in Major Mizoram Drug Bust

Mizoram Police have seized 72.51 kg of methamphetamine tablets worth an estimated ₹58.01 crore in one of the state's biggest drug busts this year, underscoring intensified efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb narcotics trafficking in the Northeast.

The seizure was made during a routine vehicle inspection conducted by a special team of the Saitual District Executive Force (DEF) at Kualmawi in Keifang, Saitual district. According to an official police statement, the truck, which was travelling from Manipur towards Aizawl, was intercepted early on Friday. Moments after the vehicle was stopped, the driver abandoned the truck and fled into a nearby forest.

During a thorough inspection, officers discovered 61 bundles of methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as Yaba or the "crazy drug", concealed inside a specially constructed cavity above the driver's cabin. The recovered contraband weighed 72.51 kg and has an estimated illicit market value of ₹58.01 crore, making it the largest methamphetamine seizure ever recorded in Saitual district.

Police detained two passengers travelling in the truck, Kaidul Islam Laskar (21) and Rafik Uddin Barbhuiya (32), both residents of Hailakandi district in Assam, as part of the investigation. Acting on preliminary findings, investigators later arrested the alleged recipient of the consignment, Vanlallawmi (39), from Bairabi in Kolasib district, with assistance from Kolasib Police.

Methamphetamine is a prohibited narcotic under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and authorities have registered a case under the legislation. Police said efforts are continuing to trace the absconding driver and identify the wider network behind the smuggling operation.

The seizure highlights the growing challenge of cross-border drug trafficking through the Northeast and reflects the increasing vigilance of security agencies. Authorities have stepped up surveillance, intelligence gathering, and inter-district coordination to dismantle organised drug syndicates and prevent narcotics from reaching illegal markets across the country.