Guwahati: In a major breakthrough against cross-border drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized heroin worth approximately ₹12.5 crore in Assam, trafficked through an elaborate riverine route from Myanmar. The operation, which involved careful intelligence gathering over several months, highlights the growing sophistication of international narcotics networks and their use of remote river and forest corridors to evade law enforcement.

The Guwahati Zonal Unit of the NCB, working in collaboration with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Assam Police, intercepted the consignment on December 1, 2025, along the Barak river near Silchar. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the joint team identified a small indigenous motorboat ferrying the drugs and apprehended two individuals who were manning the vessel. Both have been identified as residents of Cachar district, Assam, and will be produced before the local court along with the seized narcotics for further legal proceedings.

Method of Trafficking

According to senior NCB officials, the consignment comprised 6.149 kilograms of high-grade heroin, carefully concealed inside 530 soap cases and camouflaged beneath layers of bamboo. The trafficking route was meticulously designed to evade conventional security measures. Preliminary investigations reveal that the heroin originated in Myanmar and traversed dense forest corridors in Manipur before being transported via small motorboats along the Barak river. The final intended route was the Hmarkhawlien–Fulertal–Lakhipur belt in Assam.

“The traffickers deliberately exploited riverine routes to bypass urban surveillance, police checkpoints, and security camps. This operation highlights a growing trend in the use of natural waterways for illicit cross-border drug transport,” said the NCB Guwahati official. The use of rivers not only allowed traffickers to move the consignment discreetly but also made detection by ground and aerial surveillance significantly more difficult.

Impact and Significance

The seizure of such a large quantity of heroin is considered a major blow to an international drug cartel operating across Myanmar, Manipur, and Assam. Officials claim that the operation has disrupted a well-established trafficking network, which relied on exploiting the relative remoteness of northeastern border regions and vulnerable river systems.

“This successful interception is part of a larger strategy to dismantle organized narcotics networks in the northeastern states. It also sends a strong message to traffickers attempting to exploit these border areas for illicit activities,” the official added.

Strengthening Regional Coordination

The NCB has intensified efforts to enhance coordination among drug law enforcement agencies, state police, and border guarding forces across the northeastern region. Joint Coordination Committee meetings have been conducted at the state level in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Tripura, with the aim of improving intelligence sharing, monitoring cross-border movements, and preventing further trafficking incidents.

“Beyond operations, we are focusing on building a robust enforcement ecosystem that includes inter-agency cooperation, intelligence-driven operations, and proactive monitoring of vulnerable routes,” the NCB official noted. She emphasized that such collaborations are essential to counter sophisticated smuggling networks that operate across international and inter-state borders.

Modus Operandi of Traffickers

Investigators revealed that the cartel employed several advanced techniques to avoid detection. By using small, machine-operated country boats and concealing narcotics in ordinary consumer goods like soap boxes, traffickers minimized the risk of arousing suspicion. Dense bamboo layers served as an additional layer of concealment, illustrating the lengths to which these networks go to obscure their shipments from authorities.

The operation underscores a growing challenge for law enforcement agencies, as traffickers increasingly exploit geographically challenging regions, including forests, rivers, and remote border areas, for transporting narcotics. Officials stressed the importance of sustained intelligence operations, combined with on-ground surveillance and riverine patrolling, to preempt such attempts in the future.

Broader Context

Assam and the wider northeastern region of India have long been identified as critical transit points for narcotics trafficking from Southeast Asia. Myanmar, in particular, remains a key source of opiates, with traffickers using both land and river routes to reach Indian markets. The Barak river and adjoining waterways have emerged as particularly vulnerable, given their accessibility and the difficulties in conducting constant monitoring.

The NCB’s operation highlights the agency’s proactive stance against cross-border drug trafficking, combining local intelligence with coordinated enforcement to prevent large-scale narcotics smuggling. Such interventions are crucial to curbing drug proliferation, protecting communities, and dismantling the financial networks that sustain international cartels.

Legal and Enforcement Measures

The arrested individuals will face multiple charges, including possession and transportation of narcotics under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Seized heroin valued at ₹12.5 crore in the illicit market will undergo proper documentation and legal processing, while investigations continue to identify further links and accomplices involved in the smuggling operation.

The NCB has also emphasized the role of inter-agency coordination. The Guwahati Zonal Unit works closely with state police, CRPF, and other border enforcement agencies, conducting regular joint operations to monitor smuggling routes, preempt illegal shipments, and apprehend traffickers.

Conclusion

The seizure of ₹12.5 crore worth of heroin in Assam represents a significant victory in India’s fight against transnational drug trafficking. By intercepting a sophisticated riverine operation and apprehending the key individuals involved, the Narcotics Control Bureau has not only disrupted a major supply chain but also sent a strong deterrent message to international trafficking networks.

With northeastern states continuing to face challenges from cross-border smuggling, sustained intelligence-driven operations and coordinated enforcement efforts will remain critical in ensuring that traffickers cannot exploit the region’s geography and waterways to conduct illicit activities.

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