NIA busts arms smuggling network, nabs Mizo man
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 03 2024:
Even as the state continues to grapple with an armed conflict for nine months with involvement of external elements strongly suspected, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday busted a cross border smuggling network of arms, ammunition and explosives and arrested a key accused in the case in Mizoram.
The development came amid reports of arms and ammunition including explosives being smuggled from across the border coupled with allegations of involvement of Myanmar based militants in fuelling the crisis in the state.
According to a press statement of NIA shared on its official X account, the accused has been identified as Lalngaihawma, a resident of Mamit area of Mizoram.
He was nabbed from Aizawl, Mizoram following inputs of a well-organised, large-scale illegal arms and ammunition supply network operating in certain North Eastern states.
The accused, along with others, was engaged in trafficking of arms, ammunition and explosive materials not only in the north-eastern states but also across the border, as per NIA investigations.
He was working in collusion with various operatives, including insurgent groups situated across the international border.
As part of their conspiracy, they had already distributed such terror hardware to various individuals in India and abroad.
These illicit weapons & explosives are suspected to have been used in violent terrorist acts and criminal activities across different regions.
Consequent to the arrest, a case (RC-31/2023/NIA/DLI) was registered by NIA on December 26, 2023, under sections 120B of IPC, sections 18 of UA (P) Act 1967, Section 6 of Explosive Substances Act 1908 and sections 25 (1) (a) & 25 (IAA) of Arms Act.
Further investigations to unearth the entire network is in progress, the statement added.
On the other hand, different media reports say that arms, ammunition and explosives are being smuggled from across the border to fuel the nine-month long crisis in the state.
There are also allegations of foreign militants actively involved in the series of attacks on security forces, especially state police, as well as villages in the foothill areas.
Apart from Manipur sharing porous border with Myanmar, Mizoram is also a key route for cross border arms and drug smuggling.
There have been multiple instances of seizures of arms, ammunition, explosive and drugs in Mizoram, many of which were on their way to some Kuki militant groups, especially Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) operating in Manipur, which have been confirmed by security agencies.
Among some of the major seizures in Mizoram, Police CID (SB) Ops team recovered two .32 calibre rifles with four magazines, two .22 calibre rifles with two magazines and 20 rounds on May 4, last year.
Assam Rifles troops seized 1012 rounds of AK-47 ammunition from near the Indo-Bangladesh border on June 6 .
Security agencies confirmed that the ammunition were on their way to ZRA in Manipur.
Assam Rifles also seized two boxes of ammonium nitrate (12 pieces each), four boxes of Gelatine (200 pieces each), six bundles of safety fuses, 636 detonators, 28 rounds of 12 Bore cartridge, Rs 75,000 cash, one Maruti WagonR and two Kenbo bikes from Old Vaikhawtlang Track Junction on July 11, 2023 .
On July 24, last year, three people, including a Myanmarese, were arrested in connection with the seizure of explosives, arms and ammunition in Mizoram.
Police and the 30 Assam Rifles also seized 100 gelatine sticks, 100 detonators, 150 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 10 metres of codex wire, and 10 battery cells from Lungbun village near the Indo-Myanmar border on October 9 .
A huge cache of arms and ammunition including 39 grenades, 14 assault rifles and a Light Machine Gun were seized by a joint team of Serchhip district police and 14 Assam Rifles on December 3 .
On December 8, 1052 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, seven LMG 7.62 rounds, 14 INSAS 5.56 rounds, 30 rounds of .32 pistol, three empty cases, one tear smoke grenade, one hand grenade, one INSAS magazine, three AK-47 magazines were seized.
Besides, there were several instances of drug seizure in Mizoram.
Across the globe, armed groups often engage in the production and trafficking of illicit drugs as a means of funding their activities.
The profits generated from the drug trade can be substantial and provide a significant source of revenue for purchasing weapons, recruiting fighters, and sustaining armed conflict.
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