In a significant success, Tripura police on Sunday have seized 55,000 Yaba (methamphetamine) tablets worth Rs 5 crore from a Agartala-bound vehicle near Bagbasa Naka Point in North Tripura and arrested three smugglers.

Giving details, Superintendent of Police (SP) of North Tripura district, Bhanupada Chakraborty said that based on specific information, police intercepted a vehicle at Bagbasa along Tripura-Assam inter-state border and recovered the highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, also locally called Yaba tablet or party tablet.

“The drugs smuggled from Myanmar and entered Tripura through Mizoram and Assam states. We are now interrogating the detainees to obtain further details. The arrested drug peddlers belong to Karimganj area of Southern Assam,” Chakraborty said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, appreciating the role of the police in seizing the drugs, said on his social media platform: “In an anti-narcotics drive, North Tripura district police seized 55,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs. 5 crore from a Agartala-bound vehicle near Bagbasa Naka Point today. Three youths from neighbouring state have been arrested in this connection. Tripura Police's role towards our vision of building #Neshamukt Tripura is commendable.”

Chakraborty also said that they have registered a specific case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and forwarded him before a local court for further legal proceedings.

It may be recalled here that Sunday's seizure of Yaba tablets, worth Rs. 5 crore is a big seizure by Tripura police in recent times.

Methamphetamine tablets smuggled in from Myanmar have been one of the most trafficked drugs in recent years.

These drugs have a huge demand in Northeastern states, and other parts of India and neighbouring Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles organized an awareness programme as part of ‘Nesha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan’ (drugs free India campaign) at Radhanagar in Tripura’s Unakoti District, Tripura on Sunday.

During the campaign an interactive session with the local youths and troops was conducted to educate them about the adverse effects of narcotics and psychotropic substances.

Assam Rifles is determined to address the root causes of substance abuse, providing education, counseling and organizing lectures and  demonstrations for the locals and make Tripura a drug free state, an Assam Rifles statement said.