DRI seizes two AK-47 rifles, arrests one person in Mizoram

Acting on a specific information about smuggling of AK-47 rifles from Myanmar through Mizoram border into India for further delivery to some insurgent groups in Bangladesh, the officers of DRI, searched a residential premises at Chawnpui in Aizwal and recovered a loaded sack which was about to be transported by the occupants of the said premises.

On examination, the sack was found to contain Ginger.

Further examination of the said ginger sack resulted in the recovery of a packet wrapped with old and used newspaper.

On opening the said packet, two AK-47 rifles totally valued at Rs 20 lakhs were recovered and seized under Customs Act.

The Mizoram resident, from whose possession the recovery of two AK-47 rifles was made, has been arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act and has been since produced before the Court, wherein the Magistrate was pleased to send him to  Judicial custody.

In a swift joint operation launched by the DRI and Assam Rifles thereafter to identify and locate other members of the syndicate involved in this offense, another person who was acting as conduit between the arrested person (from whose possession two AK-47 rifles were recovered and seized) was identified and considering his involvement, he has also been arrested.

He has also been remanded to judicial custody for a period of fourteen days.

Further, three more persons, who are understood to be the intended buyers of the weapons have been identified, again with the active assistance of Assam Rifles.

They have also been placed under arrest under the provisions of the Customs Act read with Arms Act.

Further investigation is under progress in this case.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)