India, Oct. 25 -- In a significant operation, the Customs Division, Imphal, in association with the Manipur Police, seized 8,099 kilograms of areca nuts, popularly known as betel nuts or supari, worth Rs 32 lakh in the regional black market.

This marks the largest seizure of the year.

The contraband, transported in two vehicles falsely declared as bitumen, was smuggled into Manipur from Myanmar, officials reported on Saturday.

Five alleged smugglers and two vehicles involved in the illegal activity and attempting to evade crores of rupees in duty were detained, according to an official statement.

However, officials did not mention where the arrests and seizures were made.

The seized betel nuts and the two vehicles, a Tata 12-wheeler ...