Political storm brewing in Mizoram over areca nuts smuggled from Myanmar

Aizawl: A political storm is brewing in Mizoram over a recent action taken by the Champai district magistrate against smuggling of areca nuts from Myanmar.

Highly placed sources said Champhai district magistrate Maria CT Zuali, accompanied by some officials, had intercepted four trucks loaded with smuggled areca nuts near Kelkang village in Champhai district near the Myanmar border on the night of December 18 and allegedly burned 150 bags of dried areca nuts to be transported to Aizawl. 

Five trucks managed to escape getting arrest, sources said. Following the incident, an Aizawl-based areca nuts transporter named Lalhruaitluangi registered a complaint with state police against Maria CT Zuali. 

In her FIR, Lalhruaitluangi had alleged that the Champhai district magistrate along with other officials intercepted their trucks carrying areca nuts near Kelkang village on December 18.

The district officials unloaded 150 bags of areca nuts from three trucks and burnt on the spot, the complaint further said. The District Magistrate also allegedly snatched the drivers’ mobile phones and their ignition keys. 

https://www.eastmojo.com/news/2021/12/23/mizorams-fight-against-smuggling-of-areca-nuts-from-myanmar/#bypass-sw