Rs 55 lakh drug haul: Border Security Force, Assam Police bust cross-border smuggling racket in South Salmara Mankachar

In a significant blow to cross-border narcotics trafficking, a joint team of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Police intercepted a large consignment of Yaba tablets near the Indo-Bangladesh border on Sunday, February 16, evening in South Salmara Mankachar district. The operation led to the arrest of two alleged smugglers and the seizure of contraband valued at approximately Rs 55 lakh.
 

Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the movement of drug traffickers, security personnel launched a coordinated operation on February 15, 2026, at around 7 PM. Personnel from the 183 Battalion of the BSF carried out the operation along with a team from Mankachar Police Station led by Inspector J.S. Khobung (Officer-in-Charge) and Sub-Inspector Simanta Roy.

 

The team laid an ambush at Beparipara, a location under Mankachar Police Station situated close to the international border. During the operation, officials apprehended two individuals identified as Abu Sama (37), a resident of Jhakrachar, and Ekramul Hoque (43), a resident of Sonarpara.

 

On searching the suspects, the security forces recovered 11,000 Yaba (Methamphetamine) tablets packed in 55 packets. The team also seized a Bajaj Discover motorcycle (Registration No. ML 08C-2891) allegedly used to transport the narcotics, along with two mobile phones used to coordinate the smuggling attempt.

 

During preliminary interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that they had planned to throw the drug packets across the border fence to associates on the Bangladesh side. Officials tested the seized tablets on the spot using a drug detection kit, which confirmed the presence of Methamphetamine.

 

Authorities estimated the market value of the seized contraband at Rs 55,00,000 as per current CID rates. Mankachar Police registered a case under GDE No. 13 dated February 15, 2026. Both accused remain in custody, and investigators are working to trace the supply chain and identify other individuals involved in the cross-border racket.