Itanagar: In a significant operation launched by the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles in conjunction with Arunachal Pradesh Police on Thursday, one suspected lady operative affiliated with illicit groups was apprehended in Khonsa town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district with suspected heroin worth Rs 4 lakh.
The Assam Rifles launched the operation based on intelligence regarding the presence of suspected operatives of insurgent groups in Khonsa town.
During the multiple searches carried out at the same time, suspected heroin-based narcotic substances worth Rs four lakh were recovered along with an amount of Rs 70,000 in cash which was likely to be handed over to banned outfits.
“The operative was carrying the narcotics procured from the border areas via Burmese operatives raising money for underground groups. Apprehension of the individual led to unfolding of a narco funding racket that is being run by anti-national elements,” an Assam Rifles source said.
It said the 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 fuelling the fledgling insurgency by the sale of high-end drugs in the region.
“Since extortion activities have plummeted and the population support has been waning, the anti-national elements are devising new ways to fuel the insurgency in the region,” the AR said.
The security forces have taken a stand to shut down the narco-terrorism nexus and the apprehension of these individuals is a major setback to the nefarious designs of the insurgents, sources added.
