Cachar Police Foils YABA Tablets Smuggling Inside LPG Cylinders, Rs 45 crore worth drugs seized

Cachar Police have struck a significant blow against drug trafficking in the region, seizing a staggering amount of YABA tablets in two separate operations. The busts, which involved sophisticated concealment methods within LPG cylinders, highlight Assam Police’s unwavering commitment to their war against drugs.

The latest success came on the evening of May 9, 2025, when Cachar Police launched a special operation in the Bethukandi area, under the Silchar Police Station’s jurisdiction. Acting on credible intelligence, officers apprehended two individuals and recovered a massive haul of drugs. This follows an earlier operation in the Sonabarighat area where 50,000 YABA tablets were seized, also concealed in an LPG cylinder, and two individuals were arrested.

In the May 9 operation, the police team discovered 10 packets containing a total of 1,00,000 suspected YABA tablets hidden inside LPG cylinders in an abandoned house. The estimated black market value of these psychotropic substances is approximately Rs. 30 crore. The recovered drugs were formally seized in the presence of independent witnesses, and a drug detection kit confirmed positive results for mescaline.

The two individuals apprehended were Taramani Laskar, aged 52, of Madhurband, Silchar, and Motiul Islam, aged 53, of Sutkabari, Coochbehar, West Bengal. In the earlier operation, the arrested individuals were identified as Saidur Rahman Barbhuiya and Saibul Hussain Laskar, both from Hailakandi.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Numal Mahatta has reiterated his strong stance against narcotics, stating, “I am committed to our war against drugs, I am taking all the steps I have to ensure the vision of our CM.” He confirmed that the psychotropic substance seized on 9 May is believed to have been illegally transported from Siaha, Kolashib, Mizoram. He further informed that the total worth of the seized narcotics from both operations is over Rs. 45 crores

Further investigation into both cases is currently underway. The police’s continued efforts highlight a relentless pursuit of those involved in drug trafficking, aiming to dismantle networks and protect communities from the devastating impact of illegal substances.