Photo Courtesy: nenow
Aizawl: The Enforcement Directorate has dismantled an alleged narcotics and hawala syndicate stretching from the India-Myanmar border into major Indian cities. Agents arrested six people. They froze 1,424 bank accounts and seized assets exceeding 26 crore rupees. Investigators traced the trafficking of heroin, brown sugar, and methamphetamine tablets from Myanmar into Mizoram and Manipur.
The agency’s probe connected three separate narcotics cases. The operation used the porous 1,643-km border as a transit point. Chemicals flowed into Myanmar while illicit drugs poured back into India. M/s Krishiv Enterprises reportedly moved 32 tonnes of caffeine anhydrous and 10 tonnes of aluminium chloride anhydrous to retail outlets in Aizawl. These chemicals allegedly served tablet-pressing units in Myanmar. The agency noted that these consignments lacked genuine manufacturing destinations.
A Mini-ATM counter in Churachandpur, M/s Go Alpha Trip, became the operation's financial engine. Between December 2024 and June 2026, it processed 2,947 transfers worth 175.03 crore rupees. A handler known as Taniang reportedly delivered 1 crore rupees in cash daily to the counter. The ED found that bank accounts were frequently rented for this scheme. One homemaker’s account received 15.48 crore rupees despite a reported monthly family income of 27,000 rupees. The agency said the transactions showed little cash withdrawal and no corresponding underlying trade.
Lalrampari and Lalliansanga of M/s JTS Store in Champhai allegedly ran an unlicensed rupee-kyat exchange. Their accounts recorded credits of 268.80 crore rupees. This included 125 crore rupees in cash deposits from Delhi, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Silchar. Investigators seized a five-storey building in Champhai, Hotel JTS, valued at 17.82 crore rupees. The ED confirmed that "the Northeast’s 1,643-km porous border with Myanmar had made the region a significant transit route for drugs originating in the Golden Triangle."
Arrestees include Kashyap G. Thakkar, Thangkhuala, T. Chatuan Vanlalgakha, Zenggainhiang, Nengzatuan Valte, and H. Gouzalal. Many face charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The probe continues as officials examine additional bank officials and Customer Service Point operators linked to the movement of these funds.
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