Drug trafficking spikes in Mizoram as violence grips Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 18 2023:
Amid allegations that the on-going violence in Manipur has been triggered by the dynamics of nar - co- politics, the neighbouring state of Mizoram seems to have become another casualty�of drug traffick-ing.
An analysis of media reports reveals that 16,127.60 kilograms of drugs, including heroin and other contraband worth over Rs 78 crore have been seized in Mizoram since May 3, when ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur, suggesting that trouble in Manipur has forced the drug smuggling network to focus more on bordering Mizoram.
The volume of heroin recov-ered in Mizoram was 20 kilogram in 2020 and 35 kilogram in 2021.Between May 3 and June 16 (47 days), nearly 10 kilogram heroin has been seized in the state.
Interestingly, many claimed that Chief Minister N Biren Singh-led government's drive against drug trafficking is one of the triggers behind the recent violence.
They claim that the chief minister, in the name of destroying illegal poppy cultivation, targeted only the Kuki community.
His statements, which indirectly blamed the entire com-munity for drug trafficking, hurt their sentiments, creating further ethnic divide in the state, several groups alleged.
Since 2017, when BJP first came to power, the government has de-stroyed large tracts of poppy fields in the tribal-dominated hills and evicted alleged encroachers from reserved forests to crack down on the narcotics trade.
Most of the villages affected by this drive are inhabited by the Kuki community, which, as many social observers say, has resulted in racial profiling.
It's not just the BJP, but other parties have also flagged the issue of poppy cultivation in Manipur.
In July 2022, Congress MLA K Ranjit raised this issue in the assembly and urged the House to enact a strin-gent law that would award capital punishment or life imprisonment to people arrested in connection with the illegal drug trade.
The influx of drugs from Myanmar, which borders four north-eastern states, including Manipur and Mizoram, has be-come a huge menace in the region, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of India's geography.
According to the International Narcotics Con-trol Board and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNO-DC), Myanmar is one of Asia s main sources of illegal production and supply of drugs.
In December 2022, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga urged the UN to take proactive steps to curb the illegal drugs trafficking and smuggling of various contraband goods from Myanmar.
He said that drugs trading and poppy cultivation that had been going on in Myanmar was being smuggled to Mizoram and his government was facing big challenges of drug trafficking in the state.
Several experts say that the political crisis in Myanmar resulted in a spike not only of illegal immi-grants to India but also in smuggling activities of drugs.
In fact, Mani-pur CM Biren Singh has, on several occasions, has said that Myanmar immigrants are responsible for de-forestation, poppy cultivation, and drug menace in the state.
Manipur has long served as a ma-jor conduit for drug trade origi-nating from Myanmar.
However, due to the prevailing violence and road blockades along Manipur's highways, drug smugglers have di-verted their operations to Mizoram.
A series of drug busts in Mizoram between May 5 and June 16 high-lights the growing impact of this route shift.
At least 24 instances of seizing drugs and contraband items have been reported in Mizoram from May 5 to June 16.Of the major drug hauls, mention may be made that on May 5, a team of CID (SB) seized 5.4 kg of Methamphetamine at Bawnkawn Durtlang road, Aizawl from the possession of a Myanma-rese national called Lalsangliana (30) of Tahan D-Group, Myanmar.
The seized contraband was worth around Rs 11 crore in the interna-tional market.
On May 18 afternoon, Special Narcotics PS team conducted op-eration at Zarkawt area in Mizoram and seized 414 grams (33 soap cases) of heroin worth over Rs 2 Crore in the international market, from the joint possession of Thangchunga (46) of Chin Usi, Halkha, Myanmar PA - Model Veng, Hnahthial) and Lalnunsiami (50) w/o Lalkima of Hnahthial Peniel Veng.
In another instance, Crime Investigation Department (Special Branch) of Aizawl police intercepted a truck at Tawngtaimual bear Aizawl on May 22 morning and recovered over 2.4 kilograms of heroin concealed in 200 soap cases.
The handyman of the truck claimed to be a 16-year-old juvenile from Assam's Hailakandi.
On the next day, 32-year-old Zothanmawia, a resident of Zokhawthar village in Champhai district was arrested for possessing metham-phetamine worth Rs 19.5 crore in Aizawl by a joint team of Special Narcotics Cell of Mizoram Police and 2nd Assam Rifles from near Ch Chhunga bus terminal in lhuampui area.
On May 29, a combined team of Assam Rifles and Special Narcotics police station in Aizawl seized 306 gm of heroin worth Rs 1.53 crore from the possession of two women peddlers aged 28 and 26 years.
Though identities of the two drug peddlers were not disclosed, their photos along with the seized drugs were published in the media.
Apart from the major seizures, numerous cases of seizure involving drugs and contra-band items below Rs 1 crore have also been documented in Mizoram over the past month and a half.
(with inputs from India Today NE) .
Comment
