Syllabus: GS: III & V: Internal Security, Organised Crime, Border Management

Why in the news?

A major operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Guwahati Zonal Unit, dismantled a Myanmar–Manipur–Assam drug trafficking network on December 1, recovering 6.149 kg heroin worth ₹12.5 crore, concealed in 530 soap cases, being transported through the Barak River.

Drug Trafficking in Northeast India

• Drug trafficking is one of India’s most persistent internal security challenges, but the Northeast has emerged as the new frontier, owing to its proximity to the Golden Triangle—the world’s second-largest opium-producing region covering Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos.
• This places Assam and Manipur at the centre of a transnational narcotics corridor.

The recent case underlines a shifting strategy:

• Traffickers are using river systems like the Barak to evade road checkpoints.
• Dense forest routes in Manipur act as safe entry points.
• Small indigenous boats allow silent movement across border districts.

The NCB confirmed that the consignment originated in Myanmar, travelled across forest corridors in Manipur, and was headed towards the Lakhipur–Fulertal–Hmarkhawlien belt in Cachar.

Scale of the Threat in Assam and the Northeast

• 14 NDPS cases registered in Assam this year
• 31 arrests made
• 88 kg methamphetamine and 17 kg heroin seized
• Value of seizures: ₹105 crore
  

These numbers represent only a fraction of the total illicit flow.

Why the Northeast Is Vulnerable

1. Porous Borders with Myanmar

The India–Myanmar border is difficult to monitor due to:

• Mountainous terrain
• Dense forests
• Free Movement Regime allowing cross-border tribal travel

2. Proximity to the Golden Triangle

• Myanmar’s Shan and Chin states are major producers of: Heroin (No. 4 grade), Methamphetamine “Yaba.” These drugs move towards India to find new markets.

3. Ethnic Conflict and Weak Governance in Manipur

• Internal unrest creates: Unguarded stretches, Scope for traffickers to avoid security grids

4. Riverine Routes

• Rivers such as the Barak, Surma, Kushiara, and Brahmaputra are increasingly exploited.

Understanding the Key Terms

• Golden Triangle: One of the world’s largest heroin-producing zones (Myanmar–Laos–Thailand).
• NDPS Act 1985: India’s principal law regulating narcotic drugs; includes strict punishment and presumptive guilt provisions.
• Narco-terrorism: Criminal groups using drug trafficking to fund violence or insurgency.
• Soap case heroin: A preferred packaging method for Myanmar-origin heroin.
• Methamphetamine (Meth): A synthetic stimulant increasingly replacing heroin due to easier production.

Government Response: Strong but Still Evolving

1. National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR)

Focus on de-addiction, rehabilitation, awareness.

2. Strengthening of NCB Presence in the Northeast

Guwahati Zonal Office leading inter-agency operations.

3. Inter-state Coordination Mechanisms

NCB, CRPF, Assam Police, and Manipur Police joint operations.

4. Engagement with Myanmar

Despite political instability, India continues to coordinate on:

• Border patrolling
• Intelligence sharing

5. Assam Govt Initiatives

• “Drugs-Free Assam” campaign
• Seizure and destruction of narcotics
• Targeted action against peddlers in Barak and Bodoland regions

Road Ahead: What More Must Be Done?

• Enhanced riverine surveillance
• Use of drones and satellite imagery
• Border fencing in critical patches
• Formal withdrawal or review of the Free Movement Regime
• Increasing NIA/NCB manpower in the Northeast
• Community-level intelligence networks involving village councils
• Special courts for fast NDPS trials

Exam Hook

Key Takeaways

• Northeast India is becoming a critical hotspot for Myanmar-origin heroin and meth.
  
• Traffickers are now using rivers like Barak to bypass conventional security.
  
• NDPS Act, NAPDDR, and inter-agency coordination form the backbone of India’s anti-drug framework.
  
• Assam’s geographical location makes it uniquely vulnerable but also strategically important.
  

Mains Question 

“Discuss the strategic and security implications of Myanmar-origin drug trafficking for Assam and the wider Northeast. Suggest policy measures to strengthen India’s response.”

Source