The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches in Mizoram related to an alleged Myanmar areca nut smuggling and money laundering scheme worth over Rs 970 crore. The searches were conducted at nine locations in Champhai district, involving residential and business premises of various individuals. The investigation stemmed from an FIR by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), CBI, Imphal, regarding a large-scale smuggling operation of dry areca nuts from Myanmar into India.
The ED’s probe uncovered that Myanmar nationals smuggled areca nuts into India without customs clearance, passing them to local facilitators at the border. These facilitators stored the goods in godowns in Champhai and arranged their transport to Vairengte at the Assam-Mizoram border. Traders from Silchar financed the operations, transferring funds to the Mizoram-based facilitators through banking channels. Payments to suppliers in Myanmar were made in Indian currency, later converted to Myanmar currency through local money exchangers.
The investigation also revealed fraudulent issuance of e-way bills amounting to Rs 251.19 crore (SGST) and Rs 86.25 crore (CGST) in Champhai district between 2021-2024. Local facilitators received commissions for various activities related to the smuggling operation. The modus operandi involved employing local individuals as front claimants before Customs authorities to secure the release of seized goods, with significant payments made for customs release proceedings per seizure.
Bank account analysis showed that proceeds of crime totaling over Rs 970 crore were moved through multiple accounts from 2013 to 2025. During the searches, incriminating documents, property deeds, business records, and electronic devices were seized. The ED continues its investigation into the case.
