A coordinated operation by the Mizoram Police, the State Excise and Narcotics Department, and the influential Young Mizo Association (YMA) has resulted in the arrest of 71 individuals, including 15 foreign nationals, in connection with drug smuggling.
Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) H. Ramthiengliana said that the operation, known as “Operation Jericho,” has seized contraband worth Rs 16.10 crore so far. The crackdown has also impacted the local drug market — the price of 13 to 14 grams of heroin has jumped from Rs 25,000 to nearly Rs 40,000, indicating a major disruption in supply. Authorities believe this inflation indicates that the flow of narcotics into Mizoram has slowed dramatically.
The crackdown marks a determined effort to dismantle smuggling syndicates that have long exploited Mizoram’s porous international borders. For years, the state has grappled with an influx of illicit drugs, largely due to its proximity to the ‘Golden Triangle’, the notorious drug-producing region where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos converge. Mizoram’s rugged terrain and cross-border ethnic ties have made it both a transit route and a consumption hub for narcotics trafficked from Myanmar.
Officials have noted that the ongoing campaign is yielding encouraging results, driven not only by strong law enforcement but also by active community involvement. The Young Mizo Association (YMA), one of the state’s most influential civil society groups, has played an instrumental role in mobilising public awareness and supporting authorities in intelligence gathering. Such grassroots participation, combined with stringent policing, has been hailed as a model for other northeastern states grappling with similar issues.
In Champhai, a border district that has become a key entry point for smuggled drugs, authorities registered 87 cases and arrested 112 individuals between January and September this year. Its close proximity to Myanmar has made Champhai a focal point in Mizoram’s ongoing war on drugs. The repeated arrests of foreign nationals highlight the transnational nature of the issue and the urgent need for stronger coordination with neighboring countries.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has previously acknowledged that the state’s geographic location makes it particularly vulnerable to drug trafficking. However, he has also stressed that the government’s strategy focuses not only on enforcement but also on rehabilitation to address the crisis comprehensively.