Racket involving smuggling of firearms in Northeast unearthed

A major racket involving smuggling of firearms in the Northeast region has come to light following a joint operation by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Assam Rifles.

Two AK-47 rifles were seized and five persons arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle the fire arms.

Acting on specific information about smuggling of AK-47 rifles from Myanmar through Mizoram border into India for further delivery to some insurgent groups in Bangladesh, the officers of DRI searched a residential premises at Chawnpui are here on Sunday.

They recovered a loaded sack which was about to be transported by the occupants of the said premises, a statement issued by the agency said.

On examination, the sack was found containing ginger. "Further examination of the sack resulted in recovery of a packet wrapped with old and used newspaper. On opening the said packet, two AK 47 rifles totally valued at Rs 20 lakh were recovered and seized," it said.

In this case, the arms have been smuggled into India from an unauthorized route across the Indo-Myanmar border, the DRI said.

The Mizoram resident from whose possession, recovery of two AK-47 rifles was made, has been arrested.

In a swift joint operation launched by the DRI and Assam Rifles thereafter to identify and locate other members of the syndicate involved in this offense, another person who was acting as conduit between the arrested person (from whose possession two AK-47 rifles were recovered and seized) was identified and considering his involvement, he has also been arrested, it said.

Further, three more persons, who are understood to be the intended buyers of the weapons have been identified, again with the active assistance of Assam Rifles, the DRI said.