Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed at Jatrakona in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, apprehended one drug smuggler and the driver of a three-wheeler vehicle and seized 994 Yaba tablets worth more than Rs 3.5 lakh on Tuesday.
The special ambush party first observed a suspicious three-wheeler vehicle (ML08-F-7148) which was coming from Baghmara side, and proceeded towards Dalu.
The ambush party stopped the vehicle and apprehended two persons – Ratan Saha (30) and Sarat Mahanta (29), both residents of Chaipani (Babupara), under Dalu police station in West Garo Hills district.
When the BSF personnel conducted search operation, the party recovered 994 Yaba tablets, one mobile phone, and Rs 14,520 from their possession.
On questioning, Ratan Saha revealed that the seized tablets were to be handed over to one person by the name Litan (35) of Palpara at Kilapara in South Garo Hills district.
He also revealed that he had collected this consignment from one Muktar Ali at Baghmara.
“Yaba Tablet is a mostly consumed drug by youth of Bangladesh. These red-coloured pills are bought in bulk at Rs 350 per pill in the border areas. After transferring through several hands, it is sold to end-users in Bangladesh at 800 to 900 taka per pill. The demand for this type of tablet has spiked in part due to the addiction of users in Bangladesh,” a statement issued by BSF said.
Meanwhile, the apprehended persons and the seized items were handed over to the concerned department for further legal action.