Summary:
- Mizoram Police, in a joint operation with an intelligence agency, arrested five individuals, including a Chin National Front leader, for arms smuggling.
- Authorities seized six AK-47 rifles, 10,050 rounds of ammunition, and 13 magazines during the raid in Mamit district.
- The arms were intended for trade between Myanmar’s CNF and Bangladesh’s UPDF-P insurgent groups, highlighting cross-border trafficking.
- A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing to dismantle the smuggling network threatening regional stability.
In a significant breakthrough, Mizoram Police, in collaboration with an intelligence agency, successfully intercepted a major arms smuggling operation involving insurgent groups from Myanmar and Bangladesh. The operation, conducted on January 15, 2025, led to the arrest of five individuals, including a prominent leader of the Myanmar-based Chin National Front (CNF). Authorities seized a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition during the raid, which took place on the outskirts of Saithah village in Mamit district.
The seized arsenal included six AK-47 rifles, 10,050 rounds of ammunition, and 13 magazines. According to preliminary investigations, the arms were intended for trade between the CNF and the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF-P), an insurgent group active in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts. This operation underscores the transnational nature of illegal arms trafficking and its implications for regional stability.
A senior police officer described the operation as one of the largest arms recoveries in Mizoram’s history. “This sends a strong warning to illegal operators in the region and highlights ongoing threats to peace,” the officer stated. The arrested CNF leader’s involvement is considered a significant achievement in counter-insurgency efforts within the state.
Mizoram shares extensive unfenced borders with both Myanmar and Bangladesh, making it a hotspot for cross-border smuggling activities. The region has witnessed heightened security concerns due to ongoing ethnic conflicts and insurgencies. Over 40,000 refugees from Myanmar have sought shelter in Mizoram following political turmoil in their home country.
Authorities have registered a case at West Phaileng Police Station and are intensifying efforts to dismantle the arms smuggling network. This operation not only neutralized an immediate threat but also serves as a reminder of the persistent challenges posed by transnational criminal networks operating in India’s northeastern region.
Source: Hindustan Times
