DRI seizes 60,000 kg smuggled foreign origin areca nuts in North-East region; 5 held

India, May 22 -- The Government of India has issued a release:

In two major operations yesterday and earlier in the week in the North East region, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)'s Guwahati Zonal Unit has seized a large quantity of around 60,000 kg smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts.

Acting on specific intelligence, DRI conducted operations in Mizoram and Assam leading to these seizures. Initial investigations revealed that foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through Myanmar-Mizoram border. In one of the operation, DRI was assisted by 38Bn of Assam Rifles. So far, 5 persons have been arrested in these operations.

Illegal influx of the areca nut from the neighbouring country is causing sever...