Kyaw Thiha — Drugs worth crores of rupees were seized from five Myanmar nationals, including three Rakhine youths, in the Indian State of Mizoram. The drugs were seized at three separate locations on 20 and 21 February.
On 20 February, the Indian authorities in Jhokhar of Mizoram, checked a vehicle entering from Myanmar and found 12 packets of heroin weighing 145 grams and 10 packets of methamphetamine weighing 10.259 kilograms which were hidden in the front space.
The heroin seized is estimated to be worth Rs 2,900,000 and the methamphetamine Rs 307,770,000.
The drugs were seized from U Za Anna (52) hailing from Lamzang village under Tetin township of Chin State.
On the same day, the Assam Rifles seized about 80,000 methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 11 crore from four men who crossed Kaladan river and entered Mizoram through Kaki village in Lawngtlai locality.
A Laungtalai resident informed that the place where they were caught is usually not accessible during the rainy season. After checking the boats these drugs were found. The four individuals, who were caught with the illegal items, hail from Maungdaw locality of Rakhine State and one from Lawngtlai locality.
Detained three Rakhine youths (one 15 and two are 17 years old) hail from Maungdaw on western Rakhine State which is close to Bangladesh. The Lawngtlai resident is identified as Lai Ram Lyana (40).
Similarly on 21 February in Jhokhar locality, a Chin man riding a motorcycle was also caught with 15.916 kg of methamphetamine tablets worth over Rs 12 million by the local police team with the help from Assam Rifles personnel.
In November 2025, two Myanmar nationals were caught with methamphetamine tablets and heroin worth over Rs 26 crore from Aizawl in Mizoram State.
Drug trafficking and also illegal smuggling have increased in Mizoram, especially after the military coup in Myanmar that took place in February 2021.
Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma recently told the legislative assembly that they will crack down on drug trafficking and smuggling along the India-Myanmar border.
A core committee comprising the Assam Rifles, Indian Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) was formed to improve the information sharing and coordination in six border districts, including Lawngtlai and Saiha districts.
The announcement came after a large volume of drugs were seized along the international border.
In September last year, the Mizoram authorities carried out an operation targeting 20 border villages, which led to the bust of several drug gangs in Champhai areas, which is believed to be an important entry point for drug peddlers. Illegal drugs worth Rs 1,047 crore were seized from those areas in the last few months.
