Over 1,000 Urea Bags Recovered as Border Police Crack Down on Smugglers

A major attempt to smuggle a large quantity of urea fertiliser concealed beneath a food consignment was foiled by police on Tuesday (July 21) at the Lailapur Police Patrol Post on the Assam-Mizoram border. Two 12-wheeler trucks bound for Mizoram were intercepted during routine naka checking on the Silchar-Aizawl National Highway, and four people, including two drivers and two handymen, were detained for questioning.

According to police, the trucks were stopped on suspicion during routine checking. The occupants initially claimed that the vehicles were carrying food products. However, a thorough search revealed that a large quantity of urea fertiliser had been hidden beneath the food consignment. Police believe that more than 1,000 bags of urea were being transported in the two trucks, although the exact quantity, total weight and market value are still being verified.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Rajat Kumar Pal, DSP Dilraj Pathak, DSP Bhaskar Saikia, CDSP Pradip Kumar and Officer-in-Charge of Lailapur Police Patrol Post Subhajit Dutta reached the spot and supervised the operation.

Speaking to the media, ASP Rajat Kumar Pal said the transportation of the seized urea was illegal. He said the fertiliser was recovered after police acted on specific intelligence. He added that the investigation would determine the exact quantity of urea, where it came from, where it was being taken, who owned the consignment and who was behind the operation. The four detained persons will also be interrogated as part of the investigation.

Police are examining the documents related to the trucks and the transport of the consignment. Investigators are also trying to establish the source of the fertiliser and identify everyone involved in the suspected smuggling network.

Investigators suspect that the urea, believed to have been meant for farmers in Assam, was being illegally transported through Mizoram with the intention of crossing the international border into Myanmar. However, police said no final conclusion would be drawn until the investigation is complete.

Lailapur Police Patrol Post has recorded several major seizures in recent weeks as security and naka checking along the Assam-Mizoram border have been intensified. Police said smugglers continue to adopt new methods to move illegal consignments, but increased vigilance has repeatedly disrupted their plans.

Local residents have welcomed the police action and said strict monitoring along the border should continue to prevent fertiliser meant for farmers from being diverted into illegal trade.