Manipur violence shifts drug trafficking route to Mizoram-South Assam

Agartala: To address the escalating challenge of drug menace, a joint-level Anti-Narcotics operational group meeting here expressed concern over the increasing flow of drugs from Myanmar in Tripura, an Assam Rifles statement said.
The meeting resolved to further enhance inter-agency coordination at the functional level to devise effective strategies to undertake operations under the NDPS Act.
After the outbreak of ethnic riots in Manipur in May last year, there has been a shift in the smuggling of drugs and contraband items from Myanmar due to the non-availability of traditional routes through Manipur to Assam, it stated.
Due to the Kuki-Zo-Chin affinity existing along the Mizoram-Myanmar border and the Free Movement Regime (FMR), the smuggling of drugs through Mizoram to South Assam for Tripura is being exploited by drug cartels, and the recent seizures along these routes indicate it is a potential threat in the future.
In addition, Tripura is also emerging as a major cannabis production region, and a large quantity of ganja has been seized in the state by multiple agencies.
The meeting brought together representatives from various sectors, including the customs department and law enforcement agencies, with a collective aim to pool resources, expertise, and insights to develop a comprehensive approach against the drug menace.
“The meeting had a brainstorming session and exchanged ideas on understanding the current situation, implementing measures, and fostering synergy among agencies and cooperation in the collective pursuit of curbing the entry of narcotics and psychotropic substances,” the statement added.