Drug peddling worries IPAK, demands action
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 29 2021:
Raising concern over the increasing trend of illegal drug trading in the state in the past few years, Indigenous People's Association of Kangleipak (IPAK) has stressed the need for a more stringent measure to counter this illegal trade, which impacts the society from the root.
In a statement, IPAK said that it is a matter of grave concern that illegal activities of poppy and marijuana plantation are picking up in the hill areas and at the same time, the trend of synthetic drug manufacturing in valley areas is also a serious trend, which needs immediate action from the authority.
In the past few years, the quantity of drugs seized by police and government agencies mostly ranged from several lakh to multiple crore of rupees, which is in itself a testimony of the state becoming the main route of international drug traders.
Unfortunately, there are high possibilities of some militant groups and international terrorist organisations based in hill areas, which operate in both India and Myanmar, being involved in the illegal activities.
Lately, illegal migrants from Myanmar are entering the state and getting involved in the illegal poppy plantation.
Bangladeshi drug traders are also using local people of the state in the drug trade by luring them with handsome returns.
Moreover, several VIPs and so-called social workers are involved in this drug trade in order to launch their political career with the profits they get from the drug trade without thinking of the negative impact to the younger generation of the state.
On the other hand, 'Transnational Organized Crime in Southeast Asia: Evolution, Growth and Impact' a report published by UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOCD) in 2019 states that during the year 2016 to 2018, Methamphetamine Precursor Chemical are brought in Myanmar from India's northeast and Bangladesh and drugs in the form of tablets, powder and crystal are smuggled through the same route.
The report also states that 2018 saw highest amount of drugs confiscated by Myanmar government.
The period coincides with the increased activities of illegal poppy plantation and synthetic drug manufacturing in the state.
Unless the such a disturbing trend is stopped by any means, powerful colonies of illegal migrants and non-lo-cals will crop up in different parts of the state and the indigenous communities of the state will be lost in the drug menace, the statement said, while urging the government to take up more stringent measures to stop all these illegal activities and salvage the future of the society and its younger generations.