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Kohima, Nov 13 (IANS) Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg on Thursday said a major influx of heroin and other drugs into the northeastern states comes from Myanmar, adding that some insurgent organizations and organized criminal groups in the region are involved in drug production and other illegal activities.
The NCB chief highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts among the northeastern states to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and intelligence sharing in the fight against narcotics.
Addressing the regional conference of heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of North-Eastern States and West Bengal, the NCB Director General said that drug trafficking gives rise to other organized criminal activities and has serious public health and security consequences, leading to increased crime, violence and pressure on health systems.
He said the 2019 survey conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) found drug abuse rates to be higher in the northeastern states compared to other states in the country.
Senior IPS officer Garg informed the gathering that the NCB has designated state level Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) in all the states and union territories of the country as the first line of defense in the fight against the drug menace.
He outlined the key discussion points to be deliberated upon during the conference, such as ways to target drug kingpins, inter-agency integration and real-time intelligence sharing, addressing the issue of opium and hemp cultivation, using digital platforms for intelligence gathering and improving prosecution of narcotics cases.
He encouraged all participants to use the conference to promote mutual understanding, trust and empathy among various agencies for better coordination and cooperation in the fight against drugs.
Addressing the conference held at Police Complex, Chumaukedima, Nagaland Director General of Police, Rupin Sharma, said the long and porous 1,643 km border with Myanmar, coupled with challenging terrain and governance turmoil in Myanmar, and its proximity to the Golden Triangle (Myanmar-Laos-Thailand) makes the northeastern region, including Nagaland, extremely vulnerable.
He said that drug trafficking and use are no longer just law and order issues, but they are a direct threat to internal security and the future of the youth.
According to the Nagaland DGP, the drugs and drug money flowing through these routes fuel the nexus of organized crime, insurgency and narco-terrorism; Therefore, dismantling drug cartels is synonymous with enhancing national security.
He said there are an estimated 1.2 lakh drug users in Nagaland who consume heroin which is locally known as ‘Shanflower’ or ‘SF’ because of its traditional origin in the Shan state of Myanmar. For this conference, he proposed to focus on three key pillars – coordination, enforcement and accountability.
Coordination between agencies, coordination between the different pillars of the criminal justice system, coordination between law enforcement and the civilian branches of government with the public.
Sharma advised law enforcement agencies to urgently enhance capabilities in communication surveillance, communication analysis through CDR and IPDR analysis, darknet analysis, cryptocurrency tracking and digital forensics.
He recommended setting up a dedicated North-East Anti-Drug Trafficking Agency, which would serve as a nodal point at the regional level, facilitate inter-state intelligence, manage border surveillance and oversee rehabilitation programmes, with a Director General at the helm.
He also recognized the urgent need to strengthen the forensic infrastructure with new forensic laboratories, mobile units and advanced technology upgrades such as DNA profiling and mass spectrometry for faster and more reliable drug analysis.
He proposed launching a “Drug Free India Helpline and Reward System”, providing a 24/7 platform for anonymous reporting of drug activities, with multilingual support and financial rewards for information ranging from the arrest of small dealers to dismantling major trafficking cartels.
The Nagaland Police chief also pitched for comprehensive legal reforms under the NDPS Act. Sharma reiterated that the solution lies in multi-agency coordination, targeted investment and sensitive management of unique regional concerns.
He called for collective action, cross-border cooperation and an unwavering pursuit of a drug-free future for the Northeast and all of India. The conference was attended by officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), and police departments of all eight north-eastern states and West Bengal.
–IANS
SC/And