Two trucks laden with Burmese supari seized at Dillai check post

A Correspondent

Bokajan: Amidst reports of unabated Burmese supari smuggling from south-east Asian countries into the Northeast and other Indian States, the Dillai police seized two trucks loaded with illegal Burmese supari at Dillai check post along the Assam-Nagaland boundary in East Karbi Anglong on Sunday midnight.

As per reports, the two trucks bearing registration number UP 15DT 3046 and UP 15DT 7764 were loaded in Dimapur and were proceeding for Delhi. No valid documents of the consignment could be produced by the drivers of both the trucks, thus raising suspicion of illegal transportation. A total of 640 bags of 80 kg each were seized from the trucks. The approximate face value of the seized products is said to be over Rs 1.5 crore. Police have also detained four persons, including the driver and the helper of the trucks.

The supari (dried betel nut) is the prime ingredient of a variety of pan masala and gutkha products. The soaring demand and the high duty on the imported range of the Thai and Burmese supari makes it lucrative for smuggling. Moreover, the recent hike in the import duty of Areca nut (supari) has fuelled smuggling of the product through the porous Indo-Myanmar border at Moreh in Manipur, Mizoram and Barak valley areas of Assam. Recently, the Assam Government had also ordered a probe into the illegal smuggling racket of Burmese supari through the State.

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