Illegal Burmese Supari worth Rs 7 lakh seized at Assam-Meghalaya border, two arrested

Amidst the ongoing crackdown on cross-border smuggling, police in Assam’s Boko region have seized a consignment of illegal Burmese supari (areca nuts) worth an estimated Rs 7 lakh and arrested two individuals in connection with the incident.

Acting on intelligence inputs, the Lampi Police outpost, situated along the Assam-Meghalaya border, intercepted a Tata DI vehicle (registration number AS 01 NC 4128) attempting to enter Assam from Meghalaya through the Lampi route.

The vehicle was found to be loaded with a large quantity of Burmese-origin supari, allegedly being smuggled into the state.

The two accused have been identified as Abul Kalam, a resident of Kalatali in Boko, and Lalchand Ali of Karaibil in Chaygaon.

Authorities suspect the consignment was being routed through porous border points to bypass legal trade channels and avoid customs duties. The seizure underscores the ongoing challenge of illegal trade activities in the region, especially involving high-demand commodities like supari.

Police have registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation to uncover the broader network involved in the smuggling operation. More arrests may follow as part of the ongoing inquiry.