Deadly stealth

Recent drug seizures by police at Dimapur and mostly at nearby Karbi Anglong indicate that trafficking is going on in a huge scale that was unimaginable till a few years back. The magnitude of the quantity of drugs especially heroin, confirmed that the north east region is a major transit zone of trafficking of various illicit drugs and heroin. According to various media reports, since the Burmese military (Tatmadaw) seized power under a coup in February 2022, drug production in Myanmar has increased. During different periods of the military regime in Myanmar it has been declared that drug production was to be eliminated from the country. However, in reality, during these periods, the Burmese military and drug lords always coexisted and mutually profited from drug production and trade Myanmar is the second-biggest producer of opium in the world after Afghanistan and is now believed to be the largest source of methamphetamine. A large proportion of the drug resources in the country comes from the Golden Triangle, an area where Myanmar’s Shan State meets Laos and Thailand. Drugs such as opium, heroin, methamphetamine and many more are smuggled from Myanmar into the northeast. Moreh (Manipur), Champai (Mizoram), Dimapur (Nagaland), and Guwahati (Assam) have become the nucleus of drug trafficking industry in India’s northeast. Drugs produced in the notorious ‘Golden Triangle’ enter India through Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland from Bhamo, Lashio, and Mandalay in Myanmar. Also, drugs illicitly manufactured in India and used for refining heroin travel through the same route for trade. Among the widely sold drugs is Ya ba (Thai: literally ‘crazy medicine’), formerly known as yama (Thai: literally ‘horse drug’), also known as “bikers’ coffee” and “kamikaze”. Shan state, inhabited by indigenous Shan, Wa, Palaung, Lahu and Akha has a long history of being one of the world’s opium (and heroin) repositories and in the last two decades it has also become one of the world centres of yaba –or WY (methamphetamine)– production. Yaba tablets contain a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine. The illicit use of this drug combination has been widespread, particularly in South and Southeast Asian countries. Like other north eastern states, Nagaland is also a market for drugs from Myanmar. The biggest seizure in 2021 was in December when Assam Rifles and Manipur Police seized over 54 kgs of heroin valued at Rs.508 crore in the market. Another popular drug widely used in Nagaland is Ice (crystal methamphetamine), a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system, and is highly addictive. Dependence on ice means that the person needs the drug to help him or her go about their everyday activities. Usually in powder or crystal form, “ice” is commonly snorted or smoked. It can also be injected, which increases the threat of disease transmission through needle-sharing. While the church and other organisations are focussing mostly on alcohol, there is an urgent need to accord top most scrutiny on the growing drug addiction among youths and especially school students.Hundreds of young children in districts close to the Indo-Myanmar border are getting ensnared by drugs. This is a dangerous situation and society needs to take the call urgently. The state government needs to accord top priority on funding rehab as well as treatment centres in collaboration with church and NGOs involved in the field to confront the menace.