States » EastPosted at: Oct 26 2026 4:58PM


Mizoram Home Minister hails joint crackdown on drug networks

Aizawl, Oct 26 (UNI) Mizoram Home Minister K Sapdanga today described the multi-agency Operation Trident as an example of coordinated action against organised drug trafficking, stressing that investigations must extend beyond traffickers to the financial networks and support systems that sustain the illicit trade.
In a press statement, the Home Minister said Mizoram Police, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had worked together in a coordinated operation across Mizoram, Assam and Manipur on October 23.
The operation involved 38 composite teams conducting simultaneous searches at 38 locations in Aizawl, Champhai, Lawngtlai and Zokhawthar in Mizoram, Churachandpur in Manipur and Guwahati in Assam. The action was preceded by intelligence sharing, joint identification of targets and coordinated operational planning among the agencies.
The Home Minister said the strategy was aimed at disrupting both the operational networks involved in drug trafficking and the financial channels allegedly used to move and conceal proceeds from the trade.
Mizoram Police, in coordination with Assam Police, Manipur Police and central agencies, arrested five people in Guwahati and Churachandpur in connection with an ongoing investigation into a suspected inter-state drug trafficking network.
Basanta Doley, Elajyoti Pegu Doley and Jitu Kalita were arrested in Guwahati, while Paotinmang Haokip and Nemhoiting Khongsai were apprehended in Churachandpur.
The five are suspected of performing different roles in the network, including acting as forward or backward links, facilitating financial transactions and helping move or settle proceeds from drug trafficking. Their alleged involvement came under scrutiny through intelligence gathering, digital and financial analysis, and the monitoring of individuals identified during the investigation.
The ED conducted searches in three money laundering cases at premises in Mizoram and Manipur under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency froze 1,424 bank accounts allegedly linked to narcotics trade and narco-hawala operators and provisionally attached properties worth Rs 17.82 crore belonging to suspected narco-hawala operators based in Mizoram.
Six people were arrested by the ED under the PMLA during the searches, including two in Mizoram, one in Gujarat and three in Manipur.
The searches covered premises linked to suspected hawala operators, mule-account holders and front businesses, as well as a Mini-ATM counter and bank branches holding key accounts in Aizawl, Champhai, Lawngtlai and Churachandpur.
The NCB, meanwhile, searched 13 locations in Mizoram and arrested seven people. It also seized Rs 12 lakh in cash and 500 detonators from two accused.
Lalduhawma and Suitei were arrested in Aizawl, while Teresa, Lalbiakhluna, Lalliansanga, Pency and Laltlanzova Pautu were arrested in Champhai.
The Home Minister said the operation reflected the importance of intelligence-sharing and coordinated enforcement in tackling drug trafficking networks that operate across state boundaries. The involvement of agencies specialising in policing, narcotics control and financial investigations enabled simultaneous action against suspected traffickers and the financial structures allegedly supporting them.
Mizoram Police would continue intelligence-led operations, inter-agency cooperation and action against the proceeds of drug-related crimes to dismantle inter-state and international trafficking networks, the statement said.
The broader objective, the Home Minister added, was to make Mizoram and India drug-free. UNI ZS NST
Tags: #Mizoram Home Minister hails joint crackdown on drug networks
More News

Meghalaya electorate pruned to 21 83 lakh after over 1 80 lakh names deleted

26 Oct 2026 | 9:02 PM

Shillong, Oct 26 (UNI) Meghalaya's electorate shrunk to 21.83 lakh, with 6,724 names deleted from the electoral rolls when the draft rolls were published on Monday as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)
Announcing the figures at the end of the enumeration phase, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr. B.D.R.Tiwari said that the state has a total of 21,83,963 electors, reflecting a net increase of 14,720 electors, about 0.68 per cent over the draft roll published on August 5, 2026.

see more..

Shillong Lok Sabha by-poll: Former NPP MP Kharlukhi declares support for Congress' candidate Vincent Pala

26 Oct 2026 | 8:52 PM

Shillong, Oct 26 (UNI) In a significant political development ahead of the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, former National People’s Party (NPP) Rajya Sabha MP Dr. W.R. Kharlukhi on Monday officially declared his unwavering support for Congress candidate and Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent Pala.

see more..

Bengal coastal districts on alert as deep depression intensifies over Bay of Bengal

26 Oct 2026 | 8:51 PM

Kolkata, Oct 26 (UNI) Coastal districts of West Bengal have been placed on alert as a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensifies, with the possibility of it developing into a severe cyclonic storm named Arnab, according to preliminary weather forecasts.

see more..

Bihar govt withdraws minister of state status of Anant Singh's wife Neelam Devi

26 Oct 2026 | 8:46 PM

Patna, Oct 26 (UNI) Close on the heels of the expulsion of Mokama MLA Anant Singh and his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, from the Janata Dal (United), the Bihar government has removed Neelam Devi from the Patna District 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee, resulting in the withdrawal of her minister of state status.

see more..

Bengal: Fake Charminar cigarettes seized in Cooch Behar markets

26 Oct 2026 | 8:36 PM

Siliguri, Oct 26 (UNI) A team of legal representatives from Delhi and Hyderabad seized suspected counterfeit Charminar cigarettes from several marketplaces in Cooch Behar on Monday, following a court order.

see more..