The warning signals have been there for long, but now the Intelligence agencies have sounded a high alert with the borders along Mizoram being extensively used for drug trade.
The Intelligence Bureau and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has learnt that the drugs from Mizoram are being smuggled into Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh. On the basis of estimates and the investigation reports, the agencies estimate that the drug business through this route is estimated to be around Rs 40,000 crore.
A menace of alarming proportions
The agencies say that the the situation is alarming and with there being turmoil on the other side of the border, such drug cartels are thriving. The shipments from Mizoram are moving into Nepal, Bangladesh and even the Middle-East.
The agencies have learnt that the drugs are moved by the locals in Mizoram. They are tucked in as fake components in trucks and then moved. In a couple of cases, it was found that the drugs were concealed in bamboo logs while in others it was passed off as food supplies. This suggests a nexus between some within the security mechanism, the DRI probe showed.
While the Mizoram border has been used to smuggle drugs, it has been learnt that 80 per cent of the synthetic drugs that come into the country is from Myanmar. Out of the heroin worth Rs 20,000 crore that is produced by Myanmar, 80 per cent reaches the Indian market.
In India there is also a very high demand for Yaba. The Yaba tablet which sells for Rs 10 in Myanmar is sold at Rs Rs 1,000 in India. This explains the high demand for the drug in India.
It was also found that the drug cartels are heavily smuggling methamphetamine and fentanyl into the Indian market. They tend to make huge profits by selling these drugs in India. Further they are also using India as a transit point to make sure that the drugs reach the other countries.
The distribution method
The drug cartels have made some of the northeastern states as transit points to smuggle drugs. For instance, the methamphetamine that comes into India goes to Australia and Thailand as there is a huge demand for the same. The drug is transported using the river networks to Laos, Vietnam, China and Australia.
The fentanyl and Ketamine is smuggled into China.
Further the investigations by the DRI has also found that methamphetamine is also transported to Australia through private jets. In some cases fishing boats have been used to smuggle the drugs to Japan as well as the United States.
The Mizoram border is a tough one to man. It has a 500 kilometre long border, which is surrounded by rivers, a tough terrain and a dense forest. Only 10 per cent of this border is fenced. Moreover in such tough conditions, surveillance is a nightmare or close to impossible.
The drug cartel ensures that their drugs land at the Champhai district in Mizoram first. This is because this district is close to the Tiau river. The next choice of these cartels is the Zokhawthar village which is close to the border.
The toughest places to monitor are the Siaha and Lawngltai districts. Due to this challenge, this another hotspot for the drug cartels to operate. From these districts, the drugs are moved into Assam following which they are smuggled out of the country.
Support system
When the violence broke out in Manipur, it was learnt that those orchestrating this were relying heavily on drug money for funding. The money was used to procure weapons from abroad and keep the violence going.
The menace of the drug cartels does appear to die down because they have ample support from the armed groups. Traffickers rely heavily on the armed groups such as the Chin National Army. These armed groups protect the tunnels as a result of which huge consignments are able to pass with ease.
It was also revealed during the probe that the armed groups completely back the Myanmar United Wa State Army. This is the same group that has complete control over the methamphetamine trade. The group is said to have made Rs 20,000 crore every year. They are the ones who have the labs and produce 80 per cent of the drug. Further this group also has the backing of the Junta in Myanmar which makes their job even easier.
Investigations also learnt that the other groups involved are the Shan State Army. This group produces and smuggles heroin. The People’s Militia Forces who are also big players control the drug labs in Chin and Kachin states. The money that is earned from this is spent largely on purchasing arms and ammunition. The main idea is to raise so much money so that they can keep the violence on in the northeastern states.
Recently Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh said that the drug menace in the state has assumed alarming proportions. He said that it has become a major cause of concern for the government. He also emphasised on the need to be more vigilant in order to check the menace. The menace of drug trafficking has assumed alarming proportions today and is of much concern to my government, he had also said.
