3 weeks ago
1
GUWAHATI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested the kingpin of 1 of the biggest transnational cause trafficking networks operating on the India-Myanmar border.
In a connection connected Sunday (May 17, 2026), the NCB said Thachintuang, besides known arsenic Chintuang and Tluanga, was caught successful Delhi precocious pursuing extended surveillance, quality gathering, interstate coordination, and sustained follow-up operations.
“Chintuang emerged arsenic 1 of the astir important traffickers operating on the Myanmar-Mizoram-Manipur-Assam-Tripura corridor and was identified arsenic a large planetary supplier of methamphetamine and heroin operating from Myanmar,” an NCB serviceman posted successful the northeast said.
“Investigations revealed his extended engagement successful organising cross-border trafficking networks routing narcotic consignments done Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, and Tripura into assorted parts of India and Bangladesh,” helium said. Chintuang was wanted successful aggregate cases registered nether the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by the NCB and respective Drug Law Enforcement Agencies.
Further probe revealed that Chintuang was besides accused successful 2 NDPS cases registered by Champhai Police successful 2025 relating to suspected trafficking of methamphetamine and heroin. He was additionally recovered progressive successful six NDPS cases registered by the Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department successful 2023, linked to heroin trafficking activities.
Identifying associates
“Investigations bespeak his engagement successful illicit cause trafficking networks valued astatine astir ₹115 crore. He is linked to 7 NDPS cases connected with the Myanmar-Mizoram-Tripura/Assam corridor and is besides suspected successful 5 further cases associated with the Myanmar-Manipur-Assam route,” the NCB connection read.
Chintuang was the premier accused successful a 2024 NCB Agartala Zone lawsuit involving the seizure of 14 kg of methamphetamine and 2.8 kg of heroin. He was besides the premier accused successful different NCB Agartala Zone lawsuit of 2025 involving the seizure of 49.1 kg methamphetamine tablets, wherever 9 traffickers had already been arrested earlier his apprehension.
During the investigation, the NCB identified and apprehended respective syndicate members and adjacent associates of Chintuang. Among them, Vungkhanthawna, identified arsenic a adjacent subordinate and cardinal facilitator, played a large relation successful coordinating question and transportation of narcotic consignments linked to the Myanmar-based trafficking network.
Vungkhanthawna was arrested during follow-up operations and recovered to beryllium progressive successful different NDPS lawsuit registered by the Mizoram police. Considering his continued engagement successful illicit trafficking activities, proceedings nether the PITNDPS Act were initiated against him.
Hawala operations
Another associate, Lalrampari, functioned arsenic a large hawala relation liable for handling and channelling proceeds generated done illicit cause trafficking activities of the syndicate. The NCB arrested her connected August 8, 2024.
The probe revealed hawala transactions amounting to astir ₹100 crore linked to the network, pursuing which the substance was shared with the Enforcement Directorate. Properties suspected to person been acquired done proceeds of cause trafficking were subsequently frozen.
Further probe led to the apprehension of Abu Saleh, alias Saifuddin, successful confederate Assam’s Cachar connected November 20, 2025. He was identified arsenic a large Indian operative and logistics coordinator associated with Chintuang’s network, progressive successful the proscription and organisation of narcotic substances crossed the Assam corridor.
Saleh was linked to aggregate NDPS cases registered by the Mizoram constabulary and the Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department, officials said.
One of the cardinal accused arrested successful the 2025 Agartala Zone lawsuit was Jabrul from confederate Assam’s Karimganj, connected to Chintuang’s transnational trafficking network. He was apprehended connected December 3, 2025, on with an further consignment of narcotic drugs.
Investigation revealed his progressive relation successful interstate trafficking operations and the coordination of cause movements done the Tripura-Assam route. Officials said helium was besides recovered progressive successful aggregate NDPS cases registered by the Tripura constabulary and the NCB.
Attaching assets
“Financial probe successful the cases led to recognition and impermanent freezing of aggregate slope accounts linked to the accused persons having important suspicious transactions connected with cause trafficking proceeds,” the NCB connection read.
The anti-drug bureau initiated “360-degree fiscal investigations” against cause syndicates to place and connect assets generated done illicit trafficking. Officials said that properties, slope accounts, and fiscal proceeds linked to cause trafficking networks are being identified and frozen nether provisions of the NDPS Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to dismantle the fiscal ecosystem sustaining organised narcotics trafficking.
“Investigation successful the cases revealed the beingness of a highly organised interstate and planetary cause trafficking web extending from Myanmar to Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Tripura, and Bangladesh. The syndicate utilised aggregate trafficking routes, section facilitators, transport coordinators, hawala channels, and fiscal handlers for smuggling and organisation of Methamphetamine and Heroin crossed planetary and interstate borders,” the connection said.
Chintuang was the 2nd large Myanmar-based cause supplier caught by the NCB successful 2026.
In the northeastern region, the NCB registered 48 NDPS cases during 2025, resulting successful the apprehension of 116 cause traffickers and the seizure of important quantities of narcotic drugs valued astatine ₹665 crore successful the illicit cause market.
In 2026, NCB has registered 31 NDPS cases truthful far, resulting successful the apprehension of 54 cause traffickers and the seizure of important quantities of narcotic drugs during sustained enforcement operations crossed the region.
