The Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles has recovered 80 bags of smuggled areca nuts from Tlangsam in Champhai district of Mizoram.
A joint team of Assam Rifles personnel and Champhai district customs department intercepted the truck carrying the bags of areca nuts during an operation in the district.
The Customs Preventive Force seized the contraband that is estimated to be worth Rs 13, 44,000 in the Indian market.
Cross-border smuggling of different items, including narcotics, has become a major cause of concern for Mizoram.
Also read: Assam Rifles nabs 3 drug peddlers, recovers heroin worth Rs 75.6 lakh
Although Assam Rifles in collaboration with different departments have been conducting raids in different places and seizing different contrabands, they have not been able to prevent ongoing smuggling activities in Mizoram.
Many youths are getting hooked to drugs that in turn has led to an increase in HIV positive cases.
The infection spreads among intravenous drug users who share needles to inject drugs.