Drug Smuggling from Myanmar Surges in NE India; Rs 5.7 Cr Worth of Narcotics Seized in Manipur and Mizoram
The persistent smuggling of narcotic substances from Myanmar into India’s northeastern region continues to pose a serious threat to national security and public health, with security forces in Manipur and Mizoram making significant drug seizures this week. On Wednesday night alone, drugs worth over ₹5.7 crore were recovered in coordinated operations led by Assam Rifles and Border Security Force (BSF), officials said on Thursday.
According to a defence spokesperson, Assam Rifles personnel apprehended a suspected drug trafficker in Manipur’s Noney district and seized a massive cache of narcotics being transported in a truck travelling from Imphal to Jiribam along the strategic National Highway-37.
Acting on specific intelligence shared by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), security forces intercepted the vehicle at a checkpoint. A thorough search led to the recovery of 569.24 grams of heroin and a substantial quantity of amphetamine/methamphetamine tablets, cleverly concealed in 50 soap cases and 49 sachets. The total estimated street value of the drugs is approximately ₹5 crore.
“The Assam Rifles remain committed to dismantling the drug networks operating in the region. This latest seizure is a substantial blow to the narcotics trade and a step towards restoring peace and stability in Manipur,” the defence official stated.
In a parallel operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) acting on a tip-off, carried out a search at Vairengte in Mizoram’s Kolasib district, bordering southern Assam. During the raid, the BSF personnel seized 7.042 kilograms of pseudoephedrine tablets, a chemical precursor commonly used in the production of methamphetamine. The contraband, valued at ₹7.04 lakh, was traced to Myanmar origins, and one individual was arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt.
A BSF spokesperson confirmed that the seized tablets were likely meant to be trafficked through cross-border routes and eventually distributed across Indian cities.
Based on specific input, a joint team of #BSF Sector Aizawl and Mizoram Excise & Narcotics Deptt conducted a search ops at Vairengte, in Kolasib dist & seized a large quantity of Pseudoephedrine tablets (a precursor chemical). One person was also arrested.#WarOnDrugs#JaiHind pic.twitter.com/kHkni54ybB
— BSF Mizoram and Cachar (@BSF_MizoramCach) May 22, 2025
A Persistent Cross-Border Menace
The seizures this week are the latest in a string of drug busts that underscore the alarming rise in cross-border narcotics smuggling through India’s northeastern frontier. Myanmar, which shares a 1,643-kilometre-long border with several Indian states including Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, has long been a hub for the illicit production of methamphetamine tablets (often referred to as “WY tablets” or “Yaba”) and high-grade heroin.
Drug enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged the region as a key trafficking corridor for narcotics destined for Indian markets, often originating from the notorious “Golden Triangle” — the region where Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand converge and which has been a hotbed of opium and synthetic drug production for decades.
Compounding the challenge is India’s 1,880-kilometre-long porous border with Bangladesh, which is frequently exploited by international smuggling syndicates to push drugs further into the Indian hinterland.
Recent Trends and Challenges
The latest seizures follow several other major drug busts in the region over the past few months. In April, Assam Rifles and state police in Mizoram jointly recovered heroin worth ₹3.2 crore and arrested three traffickers from the Champhai district. In March, Tripura Police intercepted a vehicle carrying cough syrup bottles containing codeine, a controlled narcotic substance, intended for smuggling into Bangladesh.
Officials attribute the growing scale of drug trafficking to weak border infrastructure, difficult terrain, and inadequate fencing, which make surveillance challenging. Moreover, ethnic conflicts and political instability in Myanmar have allowed drug cartels to operate with impunity and expand their production.
Security experts warn that the continuing influx of narcotics not only fuels addiction and crime in local communities but also threatens to destabilize the social fabric of the Northeast. The rising use of methamphetamine among youths, especially in border towns and tribal areas, is becoming a growing public health concern.
Call for Coordinated Action
Both Assam Rifles and BSF have called for enhanced intelligence sharing, technological upgrades in border surveillance, and greater coordination between state and central law enforcement agencies. They also stress the need for community participation and awareness programs to curb the demand for narcotics at the grassroots level.
While recent operations are a testament to the vigilance and commitment of India’s security forces, experts argue that only a multi-pronged approach — combining enforcement, rehabilitation, and regional diplomacy — can effectively stem the tide of cross-border drug trafficking.
|Post from the Past : Rs 30.72 Crore Meth Tablets Seized in Mizoram’s Biggest Drug Bust |
As the seizures in Manipur and Mizoram show, the battle against narcotics in Northeast India is far from over. The region continues to be both a transit zone and a growing consumer base, making the fight against drug smuggling not just a law enforcement issue, but a national priority.
|Also Read : Myanmar civil war fuels surge in cross-border drug trade, Thailand official says|
