Mizoram’s Home Minister K. Sapdanga announced during a legislative assembly session on 2 March that the state will scale up enforcement against the illegal import of areca nuts (betel nuts) from Myanmar.
The minister emphasized that these untaxed goods, imported in violation of the Customs Act of 1962, have caused significant economic distress by undercutting local market prices and fuelling the circulation of “black money.”
Official data revealed that 468 cases of areca nut smuggling were registered between 2019 and 2025, leading to 292 arrests, with the crackdown reportedly contributing to a recent rise in prices for locally grown produce.
“In the past, goods from Myanmar were imported without payment of official duties and were ‘settled’ with the customs department. Now, betel nut producers are unhappy that Myanmar’s produce is being sold at prices lower than their own,” a Myanmar trader in Mizoram told Mizzima.
He added that smuggling betel nuts lets consumers buy them at cheaper prices, and because betel nuts are bulky, such operations are difficult without the cooperation of local residents.
The Minister informed the Parliament that the accused are being prosecuted under the Indian Penal Code (IPC/BNSS), and those apprehended under the Customs Act are also facing charges under the same law.
Meanwhile, Myanmar refugees in Mizoram are officially restricted from moving freely according to their own plans, but authorities say enforcing this rule in practice remains challenging.
“We have heard that they are living comfortably in government-provided shelters and in the homes of their relatives. Some refugees are engaged in business, but the government has not recognized them and has prohibited such activities,” the Minister continued.
The Minister said that such businessmen are under investigation and some have been arrested in serious cases, but he did not specify which businesses were involved or the number of people taken into custody.
According to the state Home Affairs Ministry, Mizoram is home to 28,355 Myanmar nationals, though obtaining an accurate population count is challenging due to daily arrivals and departures influenced by the situation in Myanmar.
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