New Delhi, 22 May (H.S.):

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence’s (DRI) Guwahati regional unit seized approximately 60,000 kilograms of smuggled foreign betel nut (areca nut) during two major operations carried out earlier this week in India’s Northeast, the ministry said on Friday.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the consignments of dried foreign betel nut were being smuggled from Myanmar into India via the Myanmar–Mizoram border. Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI launched operations in Mizoram and Assam that led to the recoveries.

The Ministry of Finance said the operations were conducted with assistance from the 38th Battalion of the Assam Rifles. Five individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the seizures. The ministry added that the illegal inflow of betel nut from the neighbouring country is causing serious economic harm to domestic producers and undermining economic security in border areas.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar