NCB Proposes Zonal Office in Mizoram to Combat Rising Drug Smuggling
Aizawl(The Uttam Hindu): In response to the increasing drug smuggling from Myanmar, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has proposed establishing a zonal office in Mizoram, officials confirmed on Wednesday. During a meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, NCB Director General Anurag Garg discussed the need for a fully operational NCB zonal office in the state. Garg emphasized the importance of increasing the workforce, particularly with staff who are familiar with the local language and the specific ground realities of the state. The Chief Minister, a former IPS officer, engaged with Garg on strategies to combat the drug trade and prevent narcotics abuse among the youth in Mizoram. He requested that the NCB Director General submit a formal proposal regarding the establishment of the zonal office and outlined the specific requirements for the office's operation.
Lalduhoma also highlighted the critical need for enhancing infrastructure, security, and manpower along the India-Myanmar border to combat the escalating drug trafficking. Mizoram shares an unfenced border of 510 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh, which has made it a key route for drug smuggling. The Chief Minister revealed that he had already approached the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to consider forming a Mizo Territorial Army to strengthen border surveillance along these porous borders. He urged the NCB DG to provide a written proposal for strengthening the bureau’s presence in the state. Mizoram’s proximity to Myanmar’s Chin State has made it a hub for smuggling various drugs, exotic wildlife, and other contraband through districts like Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual, and Serchhip. Champhai, in particular, is a hotspot for trafficking methamphetamine, foreign cigarettes, areca nuts, firearms, and exotic animals. The drugs primarily enter India through illegal border routes in Mizoram and Manipur, before being distributed across the northeastern states, other parts of India, and neighboring countries such as Bangladesh.
