Booming illegal trade in Yaba tablets at Silchar

Special Correspondent

Silchar: Not a day passes without the media report about illegal trade in Yaba tablets in this valley. The route followed by the drug peddlers, old and new, is Jiribam – Silchar or Aizawl – Silchar or Kolasib–Hailakandi . Since the drugs or heroin are well consumed and sold like hot cakes across the valley, their demand, particularly among youths, is rising, sending alarm bell among parents and guardians. The border town of Karimganj has been in the news for the deep concern expressed by guardians and social activists at a meeting convened by the district administration at the menace of unabated flow of the drugs and its easy availability at different outlets.

Two major check-posts of the valley, one at Jirighat along the Imphal-Silchar NH 37 and the other at Churaibari along the Karimgan-Tripura NH-6 often hit the media headlines for big haul of contraband goods. From interrogation of the smugglers, their modus-operandi is well defined and laid out. Yaba tablets are smuggled out all the way from Myanmar and brought down to the valley through Manipur or Mizoram, influencing the check-gates or posts in the hinterland.

In a gap of the last three days, the tablets in question wrapped surreptitiously and concealed in all conceivable methods in the vehicles of all models could not dodge the vigilant check-gates at Churaibari and Jirighat. At Tripura check post, it was a catch of tablets worth Rs 60 lakh and at Jirighat, the market value was a staggering Rs 2 crore. Based on specific information, SDPO Anurag Sarmah Lakhipur sub-division, conducted a search operation with jirighat OC and his PSOs at Makhannagar-Digli forest village and apprehended two brothers identified as Abdul Hanan (41) and Nurul Jaman on Wednesday.

From their possession, 41,000 Yaba tablets were seized, the market value being Rs 2 crore. The smugglers are arrested, after judicial proceedings, put in jail as per Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, get released after few months and are back to the business as usual. Unless strict and drastic actions are taken against those who smuggle in and sell the illegal substances, nothing can put a jam on it, point out social activists.

Also read: BSF apprehended two Indian Nationals along with 1450 Yaba Tablets from Dhubri

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