The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at nine locations in the Champai region along the Mizoram-Myanmar border in connection with a probe into the smuggling of Burmese dry areca nuts into India, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday.The ED conducted the searches at nine locations in the Champai region.Officials said the raids were carried out on Tuesday morning with the help of the Mizoram Police on individuals involved in the smuggling. “This major crackdown targets a highly organised cross-border network involved in the large-scale smuggling of dry areca nuts into India. The raids focussed primarily on the residences and business premises of prominent local facilitators of the smuggling network,” said an officer, who asked not to be named.An officer said the ED’s initial probe showed that these individuals “illegally brought in Myanmar-origin consignments via the Tiu River, stored them in local godowns, and used fraudulent e-way bills and forged documents to pass them off as legitimate local purchases.”“This illicit smuggling line facilitated the generation and systematic layering of hundreds of crores of rupees, thereby impacting the country’s economy. Furthermore, the accused actively exploited their local tribal status to act as front claimants before Customs authorities, using unrelated historic import documents to secure the release of seized contraband.”Areca nut is widely consumed in India, particularly in the form of pan masala and gutkha. Its smuggling is driven by high domestic demand and cheaper alternatives.In its report on smuggling in India (2024-25), the Directorate of Revenue and Intelligence said it seized 4,613 MT of smuggled areca nuts valued at ₹234 crore, largely from Myanmar and Bangladesh borders, and major ports such as Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Thoothukudi.