**Summary of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Areca Nut Seizure**
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Guwahati Zonal Unit conducted two major operations in India's North-East region, resulting in the seizure of approximately 60,000 kg of smuggled foreign-origin dried areca nuts.
**Key Details and Metrics:**
* **Seizure Quantity:** Approximately 60,000 kg of areca nuts.
* **Enforcement Action:** Five persons have been arrested in connection with the smuggling operations.
* **Operational Locations:** The seizures took place in Mizoram and Assam.
* **Source of Contraband:** Investigations indicate the items were smuggled from Myanmar into India through the Myanmar-Mizoram border.
* **Inter-Agency Cooperation:** In one of the operations, the DRI was assisted by the 38th Battalion (38Bn) of the Assam Rifles.
* **Economic Impact:** The Ministry of Finance highlights that the illegal influx of areca nuts causes severe economic damage to domestic growers and undermines the economic security of the border regions.
**Administrative Information:**
* **Issuing Authority:** Ministry of Finance, Government of India (via PIB Delhi).
* **Release Date:** 22 May 2026.
* **Release ID:** 2264034.
Key Entities Referenced
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): The primary enforcement agency responsible for conducting operations to seize smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts in the North-East region.
Mizoram and Assam: The specific Indian states in the North-East region where the DRI's anti-smuggling operations and seizures took place.
38Bn of Assam Rifles: The paramilitary unit that provided assistance to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence during the seizure operations.
Myanmar-Mizoram border: The international border identified as the transit point for the illegal influx of smuggled areca nuts into India.
Ministry of Finance
DRI seizes 60,000 kg smuggled foreign origin
areca nuts in North-East region; 5 held
Posted On: 22 MAY 2026 1:43PM by PIB Delhi
In two major operations yesterday and earlier in the week in the North East region, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)’s Guwahati
Zonal Unit has seized a large quantity of around 60,000 kg smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts.Acting on specific intelligence, DRI conducted operations in Mizoram and Assam leading to these seizures. Initial investigations revealed that
foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through Myanmar-Mizoram border. In one of the operation, DRI was
assisted by 38Bn of Assam Rifles. So far, 5 persons have been arrested in these operations.Illegal influx of the areca nut from the neighbouring country is causing severe economic damage to domestic areca nut growers and
undermining economic security in the border regions.
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NB/KMN
(Release ID: 2264034) Visitor Counter : 9433
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