Assam CM launches large-scale drug destruction, stresses inter-state cooperation
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday launched a state-level drug disposal campaign in Nalbari district, announcing the destruction of seized narcotics worth ₹472.51 crore across nine districts. Speaking at the 14th Assam Police Battalion headquarters in Daulasal, about 75 km west of Guwahati, he initiated the incineration of heroin, cannabis, methamphetamine, and other drugs, and drove a road roller to crush bottles of illegal cough syrups.
The Chief Minister said that over the past five years, Assam Police and other agencies have seized drugs and psychotropic substances valued at ₹3,227 crore and registered 3,300 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. He emphasized the need for a coordinated effort to combat drug trafficking, noting that the trafficking route from Myanmar through Manipur and Mizoram has made Assam a transit point, with drugs moving onward to West Bengal and other parts of the country.
Mr. Sarma highlighted that inter-state coordination has improved after the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government in West Bengal, and that such cooperation is vital for establishing forward and backward linkages in the drug war. He stated that the fight against drugs does not end with the arrest of a trafficker and that a pan-India approach is necessary due to cross-border origins and destinations of consignments.
On the issue of border fencing with Myanmar, the Chief Minister said that while fencing helps check infiltration, it is not sufficient to stop drug smuggling. He pointed to the use of drones and other methods such as throwing packets across the border, and stressed the need for technology to intercept drones and human intelligence to detect trafficking. He added that the central government is in touch with Myanmar authorities and is strengthening border points in Manipur and Mizoram.
Mr. Sarma also described certain modus operandi used by traffickers, including concealing drugs under adhesive plasters on limbs and using women and children to transport small quantities, making detection challenging. He expressed confidence that with improved intelligence and technology, the government would work more effectively against drug networks.
