Itanagar: In a major breakthrough, security forces have busted a major narco-terror nexus in Arunachal Pradesh by arresting three individuals with a large cache of drugs and cash from border villages of Wakka circle in Longding district, police said on Sunday.

Based on an input regarding the presence of suspected NSCN-K (YA) operatives near Wakka town, the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles in conjunction with Longding Police launched an operation in the intervening night of June 17 and 18, during which three individuals were apprehended at Wakka and Khanu villages with heroin based narcotic substance worth approximately Rs 7 lakh.

"The operatives were carrying the narcotics procured from the border areas via Burmese operatives, suspected to be indulging in drug trade to raise money for underground groups. The suspects were likely to further distribute the narcotics in open market. Apprehension of these individuals led to unfolding of a suspected narco-terror funding racket that is being run by anti-national elements," police sources said.

The arrested persons have been identified as Pongnyai Wangsa (27), a resident of Khanu village, Manthak Sankoi (20) of Nginu village, and Samong Gangsa (32) of Chof village in Longding district.

Police said, since extortion activities have plummeted with the waning population support, the anti-national elements are devising new ways to fuel insurgency in the region.

Drug trade has increased to be a major nuisance in the region. It is speculated that the drug trade is part of a larger narco-terror racket that is fueling the fledgling insurgency by sale of high-end drugs in the region.

The security forces have taken a stand to shut down the narco-terrorism nexus and the apprehension.

(With UNI inputs)