Guwahati: Security forces on Wednesday seized a huge quantity of pharmaceutical drugs worth Rs 400 crore from the northeastern states of Mizoram and Assam. Three traffickers, transporting the drugs from neighbouring Myanmar to other parts of the country via Assam, have also been arrested.
The first seizure, which was made from a house in Mizoram’s Champhai district, included 39 lakh addictive tablets, including decongestant and antihistamine. The estimated value of the addictive tablets is Rs 390.4 crore in the grey market. The seizure is considered to be one of the biggest in the hill state in recent times.
Though decongestant is a pharmaceutical drug used to provide relief from nasal congestion, drug addicts use it as an addictive substance. On the other hand, antihistamine is used to treat allergy-related diseases but is consumed by drug users for addiction.
Acting on a tip-off, troops of the Assam Rifles along with the sleuths from the Mizoram customs department intercepted a vehicle along the Assam-Mizoram interstate border and arrested a person and recovered heroin valued at Rs 12 crore from his possession. The consignment of heroin was being transported from Mizoram’s capital Aizawl.
Speaking to ABP Live, Ratul Dey, who has been associated with the cause of drug de-addiction among the youth of the Northeast for over the past decade said, “Drug addiction has been increasing among the youth at an uncontrollable pace. Around a decade ago, drug addiction was confined to heroin, brown sugar, cocaine or morphine, but now, drug users try all forms of addictive substances for addiction.”
“Drug addicts use pharmaceutical drugs as an addictive substance. Drug addicts use several pharmaceutical drugs like cough syrups, decongestants and antihistamines for addiction. This type of addiction is called “prescriptional drug abuse”. These pharmaceutical drugs are actually advised by professional medical practitioners in small quantities to be taken under strict medical supervision. But due to its euphoric effect, drug traffickers sell it in the black market and the youths use it as substance abuse, he said.”
“Lack of awareness, proper counselling, and accessibility of easy money among the youth from their parents are some of the factors which are contributing to the growing menace of substance abuse, Dey added.”
There has been an increase in smuggling activities in Mizoram through the porous and unfenced borders of neighbouring Myanmar with a rise in the seizure of contraband items in recent times.
The volume of drugs and other smuggled goods, such as exotic wild animals, dried areca nuts, gold and Burmese cigarettes, recovered by law enforcement agencies has substantially increased of late.
Mizoram shares a 510-km-long porous border with India.