In a significant crackdown on smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized about 60,000 kg of foreign-origin areca nuts in operations conducted on May 21 and earlier in the week in the northeastern states of Mizoram and Assam, India. The smuggled nuts were traced back to Myanmar, entering India through the Myanmar-Mizoram border. The DRI's actions were supported by the 38 Battalion of the Assam Rifles, leading to the arrest of five individuals involved in the smuggling activities. The Ministry of Finance highlighted that this illegal influx is causing economic harm to domestic areca nut growers and poses a threat to economic security in border regions. This operation is part of a broader effort by enforcement agencies to combat cross-border smuggling networks in the Northeast. In a related effort, the DRI also reported the seizure of around 300,000 electronic cigarettes valued at ₹120 crore in a nationwide crackdown on e-cigarette smuggling, showcasing the agency's commitment to tackling various forms of illegal trade.