Photo Courtesy: ukhrultimes
Gangtok: Top anti-narcotics officials from Northeast India, Sikkim, and West Bengal met in Chumoukedima, Nagaland, on November 13 to battle a surging drug crisis. The regional task force conference focused on dismantling trafficking networks that threaten national security. Drug trade no longer remains a simple law-and-order issue.
Nagaland Police Director General Rupin Sharma warned that a porous 1,643-kilometer border with Myanmar makes the region hyper-vulnerable to the Golden Triangle's influence. He noted that the narcotics trade now feeds insurgency and organized crime. "Drug trafficking and use are no longer merely law-and-order issues but they are a direct threat to our internal security and the future of our youth," Sharma stated.
Officials estimate Nagaland alone hosts 1.2 lakh drug users, many hooked on a local heroin variant called shaanflower. To fight back, Sharma proposed creating a regional anti-drug agency and a dedicated helpline offering rewards for tips. He urged agencies to sharpen their focus on darknet analysis, cryptocurrency tracking, and digital forensics.
Narcotics Control Bureau Director General Anurag Garg pointed to a 2019 government survey showing drug abuse rates in the Northeast far exceed national averages. He blamed the influx of heroin on criminal groups and insurgent organizations operating across the Myanmar border. The gathered agencies are now pushing for better intelligence sharing and legal reforms to stop the flow of drugs and violence.
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