What happened: DRI and Assam Rifles recover foreign-origin poppy seeds in Assam
Officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), assisted by Assam Rifles, searched a godown in Badarpur, Karimganj district, Assam during the intervening night of 5 August and 6 August 2026.
The search recovered around 11 MT of foreign-origin poppy seeds. The poppy seeds were concealed inside HDPE bags that bore markings of commercial tea consignments, along with carton packages and loose stock scattered across the premises.
The government communication states preliminary investigation indicated smuggling of these seeds into India through the Indo-Myanmar border for onward distribution to different parts of the country.
The government communication states the recovered poppy seeds were valued at approximately Rs. 1.67 crore and were seized under the Customs Act, 1962.
Background: poppy seeds are a food/spice input but import is controlled
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