GUWAHATI: In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha and Member of Parliament, highlighted the pressing issue of rampant smuggling of Burmese Areca Nut (Burmese Supari) and other narcotics from Myanmar into India.
Expressing grave concern, Gogoi emphasised the detrimental impact of this illicit trade on national security and public health. His letter to PM Modi urgently brings attention to the widespread smuggling of Burmese Areca Nut and other narcotics from Myanmar into India.
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Gogoi alleges that recent media reports have uncovered a concerning trend of truck entries at the Merapani border in Assam, indicating the infiltration of smuggled Burmese areca nuts through the porous India-Myanmar border in Mizoram and Manipur. These illicit goods, including Burmese areca nuts, are reportedly distributed to gutkha industries in Kanpur, Lucknow, and West Bengal after entering Nagaland.
The smuggling network also encompasses other drugs such as heroin, opium, Yaba tablets, morphine, and methamphetamine tablets, as well as significant amounts of foreign currencies, Gogoi claims. He alleges that media reports have highlighted the use of oil tankers to reroute these illicit goods through Manipur.
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The member of parliament underscores the multifaceted implications of this illegal trade, including substantial revenue loss for the government and severe threats to public health. He also raises concerns about potential political influence in these smuggling activities. Urging immediate action,
Gogoi calls upon the Prime Minister to strengthen border security, enhance surveillance measures, and crackdown on smuggling networks. He also emphasizes the importance of strict enforcement of customs regulations and penalties to deter future illicit trade activities.