T. Siamchinthang
North-east India shares a huge border with Burma. Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh states share a combined 1643 km with their military-ruled neighbour which, covered with dense forests and rivers, provides the perfect cover for drug trafficking. This area has become every drug dealer’s dream and despite recent attempts by the Indian and Burmese governments, the problem grows steadily worse.
The geographical make-up of the region is characterised by its proximity to the border with Burma, the world’s second largest opium cultivating country and the largest producer of amphetamine tablets. Close ties between the people of Burma and India facilitate drug peddling which is also aided by Burmese army personnel. The Indo-Burma border trade agreement signed by the two governments in 1994 also paved a way for drug lords to use official trade as a cover for drug smuggling.
Under the agreement, Indians and Burmese are allowed unrestricted access to an area spanning 40 kilometres on each side of the border. Drug traffickers quickly took advantage of this freedom and started using people from both countries as couriers across the border. Tamu and Moreh, two border trade points between Burma and India, are part of several major smuggling routes.
Mizoram is a small north-eastern Indian state that shares a border of 510 km with Burma. Apart from constant insurgency problems, state authorities have to tackle a burgeoning drug trade. Heroin, known locally as ‘No-4’is available in various Mizoram-Burma border areas and is generally brought to India from Burma through Champhai.
Though proper surveys are yet to be carried out, there are believed to be hundreds of drug addicts in Mizoram. Social organisations like Mizo Zirlai Pawl and the Young Mizo Association are implementing anti-drug awareness campaigns in affected areas with some success. But the porous border makes it almost impossible to prevent the movement of drugs into Mizoram from areas of Burma including Shan State.
Dr S. Mangzum, a leading scholar from the Zomi/Mizo community, said, “The drug problem is very serious in the state. Though several social organisations have now come forward to contain the problem by way of creating awareness among the masses, they have not been able to eradicate it completely.” “The fact is simply because of free flow of drugs from Burma. Taking advantage of porous border and prevailing political unrest in [Burma], a section of people is involved in drug trafficking for their livelihood. The problem needs more attention from the concerned authorities,” he said.
Rampuiya, YMA’s General Secretary said 730 villages along the Indo-Burma border have been affected by drug use and that drugs are mainly brought to the areas from Zokhawatar. “We are also taking steps to reduce the flow of drugs with the help of volunteers. According to our reports shared by the Burmese people, Zomi areas (in Chin state) have taken steps against heroin, opium and alcohol”, he said.
Nagaland shares border areas with the Tuensang and Mon districts where Opium, cannabis and heroin trading is a serious problem. According to reports, opium is cultivated in the remote areas of Mon district, inhabited by the Konyak community. Opium cultivation areas are scattered in the hills making them difficult to locate and destroy. Cannabis is also widely used in the area as it is cheap. Much of the drug comes from Manipur which shares border with Burma. Some government outposts have been built in the area but have failed to stop drug production.
According to available information, in the past six months, 20,000 kg of cannabis, 400 gm of heroin and two kg of opium have been seized by various agencies. All the drugs are believed to have come from Burma.
The majority of Singphos are opium addicts (almost 60 percent according to a Singpho National Council report). Young members of the Singphos who used to consume opium have switched to using ‘No-4’, generally bought from Burma through Joirampur, where the drug is cheap.
Bisa Latnong, the Singpho King is worried about the increasing number of heroin addicts among his community. The King said, “Comprehensive steps should be initiated as soon as possible to contain the problem, otherwise the Singpho community will vanish from the region”.
C.C. Singpho, the Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister has also expressed concern over increasing mounts of drugs in border areas, particularly in Singpho communities. He said the government had taken up the matter with the Indian Home Ministry.
A proper survey is required to determine the number of addicts in the State and rehabilitation camps should be built immediately. The involvement of insurgent groups in drug trafficking is clear from information provided by local people who are also aware of the drug routes, but will not speak about them openly.
Lt. Cnl. S.D. Goswami, Defence Public Relation Officer of Manipur said, “During the launch of an anti-insurgency operation, we have made several seizures including heroin and ganja. Whenever we get information we generally share our inputs with the police and other concerned departments.”
M. Sushilkumar, Superintendent of Police, Border Narcotics Affairs, said, “Whenever we get feedback from our sources we immediately launch operation”. Asked whether he had come across Burmese police or army Officials involved in the drug trade, he said no, adding that Burmese authorities had been cooperating fully.
On September 27, Indian and Burmese authorities held an important meeting in Moreh emphasising the need for intelligence sharing. “Our main agenda was to evolve a strategy to contain the menace and during the course of discussion both the parties had agreed to share information in this regard,” Sushilkumar said. An estimated 27 similar meetings have taken place since 2001.
Though Indian police are tight lipped about the involvement of the Burmese police or army in the drug trade, villagers in border areas are convinced that is the case.
A Twenty six year-old Zomi woman Himjaseng Vaiphei was arrested in Imphal recently with 400gm of heroin from Burma. During interrogations she said, fellow traffickers bought heroin from Burma with the help of Burmese police. Himjaseng Vaiphei, who is now in jail, said bribes were paid to Burmese officials depending on the amount of drugs being trafficked.
Manipur Police have arrested 54 people and have seized 3.7 kilograms of high grade heroin, 24,276 kilograms of cannabis, 800 grams of opium Spasmo Proxivon 37,904 capsules and 30 strips of Nitrosene capsules.
More rehabilitation camps are required in border areas considering the gravity of the situation. Drug trafficking is still rife along the border through Moreh and Champhai. If Burmese police and army officials are involved in drug trafficking, the matter needs immediate attention, however, Burmese authorities are known to have warned people in Namphalang not to get involved in drug trafficking.
The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has taken a serious stance against Opium production and drug trafficking. According to a CD prepared by the KIA, soldiers have destroyed several cultivation areas. Drug traffickers are reported to have been punished in public in an attempt to scare people away from drug trafficking and cultivation. CDs have also been circulated across Kachin state as part of an awareness campaign. The KIA has reportedly produced anti-drug songs which are being circulated among the people.
