NCB chief Anurag Garg warns of massive narcotics inflow from Myanmar into Northeast India, driven by insurgent and organised crime groups. Experts call for stronger coordination, intelligence sharing, digital surveillance, legal reforms, and regional anti-drug mechanisms to protect national security.
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General Anurag Garg on Thursday warned that a significant portion of heroin and other narcotic drugs entering India’s Northeastern states is trafficked from Myanmar, with insurgent groups and organised criminal networks deeply entrenched in the illegal trade. Speaking at the Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Northeastern states and West Bengal, Garg stressed the urgent need for a unified regional response to counter the escalating drug menace.
Addressing senior officials at the Police Complex in Chumoukedima, Nagaland, Garg said the narcotics crisis in the Northeast cannot be viewed in isolation, as it is closely linked with organised crime, insurgency financing, and cross-border networks.
“The major influx of heroin and other narcotics into the Northeastern region is coming from Myanmar. Certain insurgent outfits and organised crime groups in the Northeast are involved in drug production and a range of illicit activities,” he said, urging states to strengthen enforcement capacity.
Garg emphasized that drug trafficking fuels a chain of other serious crimes, generates violence, and places heavy pressure on public health systems. He cited a 2019 Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) survey, which found that the Northeastern states reported significantly higher levels of drug abuse compared to the rest of the country.
The NCB chief highlighted that state-level Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs) have been designated as the first line of defence in the nationwide fight against narcotics. Strengthening these units, he said, would be crucial in targeting kingpins, dismantling networks, and improving inter-agency collaboration.
Outlining the core agenda of the conference, Garg listed key focus areas:
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targeting high-level traffickers and kingpins,
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achieving real-time inter-agency intelligence integration,
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addressing opium and cannabis cultivation,
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using digital platforms and forensic capabilities for intelligence collection,
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and improving prosecution and conviction rates in narcotics cases.
He urged officials to use the conference to build trust and cooperation:
“Mutual understanding and coordination between agencies are essential for effective anti-drug operations. Our goal must be to strengthen our collective fight against narcotics.”
Nagaland DGP Warns of Rising Narco-Threat Due to Myanmar Border
Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma, addressing the gathering, underscored how geography and geopolitics have made the Northeast exceptionally vulnerable.
“The Northeast shares a long and porous 1,643-km border with Myanmar. Challenging terrains, Myanmar’s internal governance turmoil, and its proximity to the Golden Triangle make the region highly susceptible to cross-border drug trafficking,” he said.
Sharma cautioned that drug trafficking is no longer merely a law-and-order issue but a serious national security threat.
“The flow of drugs and drug money fuels the nexus of organised crime, insurgency, and narco-terrorism. Dismantling these cartels is directly linked to strengthening India’s internal security,” he said.
The DGP revealed that Nagaland has an estimated 1.2 lakh drug users, many of whom consume heroin locally referred to as “shaanflower” or “SF”, believed to have originated from Myanmar’s Shaan province.
Call for Regional Anti-Drug Agency and Upgraded Capability
Sharma proposed an ambitious roadmap built on three pillars: coordination, enforcement, and accountability.
He urged law enforcement agencies across Northeast India to scale up technological capabilities, including:
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communication surveillance,
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call detail record (CDR) and IP detail record (IPDR) analysis,
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darknet monitoring,
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cryptocurrency tracking,
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and digital forensics.
Sharma recommended creating a specialised Northeast Anti-Drug Trafficking Agency, led by a Director General, to serve as a regional nodal body overseeing intelligence coordination, border surveillance, and rehabilitation initiatives.
He also called for urgent strengthening of forensic infrastructure, including new laboratories, mobile forensic units, DNA profiling systems, and mass-spectrometry-based drug analysis tools for faster conviction processes.
Proposal for ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Helpline and Reward System’
In a major initiative, Sharma proposed launching a 24/7 “Nasha Mukt Bharat Helpline and Reward System”, which would:
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allow anonymous reporting of drug activities,
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support multiple languages,
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and provide financial incentives for information leading to arrests or the dismantling of trafficking networks.
He also highlighted the need for comprehensive legal reforms under the NDPS Act to better address evolving trafficking patterns.
Unified Regional Front Against Drugs
Closing the session, Sharma and Garg jointly stressed the need for multi-agency coordination, cross-border cooperation, and targeted investments to address the unique challenges of the Northeast.
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The conference was attended by officials from the NCB, MoSJE, and police delegations from all eight Northeastern states and West Bengal.
