Intense law enforcement pressure on drug trafficking alone is not enough
Mokokchung Times Feature
The recent drug seizures from the districts of Nagaland confirms the large-scale drug trafficking taking place in the state. In the past year alone, a total of 217 cases were registered by Nagaland Police and 309 persons were arrested.Nagaland is being used as a conduit route by drug traffickers, according to narcotics officials.
According to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), during January 2019, the total quantity of heroin seized along the Moreh, Dimapur and Khatkhati route was around 700 grams. On the other hand, during January 2022, the total quantity of heroin seized on the same route was nearly 3 kgs and worth around Rs.15 crores.
The Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 459, (answered on July 20, 2021) reported the registered drug cases in the North Eastern states as seen in the table:
Many experts agree that the porosity along the Northeast (NE) border makes the north east region a major transit zone of trafficking of various illicit drugs and heroin. The porous borders between Myanmar and the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram have been identified as the smuggling routes.
More reports have also pointed out that the close proximity to ‘Golden Triangle’, the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar, and the misuse of FMR by insurgents, crime lords and drug mafia have made North East India the nucleus of the drug trafficking industry.
Golden Triangle is the area coinciding with the rural mountains of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. It is Southeast Asia’s main opium-producing region and one of the oldest narcotics supply routes to Europe and North America.
Drugs produced in the ‘Golden Triangle’ and the drugs illicitly manufactured in India are said to enter and exit India through Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland from Bhamo, Lashio, and Mandalay in Myanmar. The route bifurcates and one channel moves northwards through Moreh in Manipur while the other moves southwards to enter Champai in Mizoram, Moreh in Manipur, Dimapur in Nagaland, and Guwahati in Assam.
In India, alcohol is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance by the masses. Next to alcohol is Cannabis and Opioids. According to ‘Magnitude of Substance Use in India’ 2019, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, 25.22 % of drug abusers in Nagaland use opioids.
In response to such calls, the government has extended to the Assam Rifles two provisions of the country’s Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Section 42 of the NDPS Act authorizes the empowered officers of this force to “search the premises, seizure of the drugs, detain any person or arrest the person who has committed the offence without a warrant.” However, it is observed that such laws alone are not enough.
In order to make sure that North East India does not become another Golden Triangle, proper education and job opportunities to the youngsters must be facilitated along with intense law enforcement pressure on drug trafficking. Integrated Check Post and Custom Land Station at borders including a hybrid surveillance system to check the illicit trading taking place at the border must be built and programs to divert the attention of the people from illicit activities must be initiated.
Summary on Narcotic Drugs
Narcotic drug is a drug that induces sleep. It generally refers to any substance that relieves pain, dull senses or induces sleep.
Basing on how they are derived, drugs fall into various categories namely: Natural drugs, Semi-synthetic drugs, Synthetic drugs and designer drugs.
* Natural drugs involve Cannabis, Opium, Coca products and Magic. These are mostly eaten, drunk or smoked.
* Semi-Synthetic drugs involve Opium poppy, Morphine, Heroin, Cocaine
* Synthetic drugs involve Amphetamines and ATS
* Designer drugs involve ecstasy
Cannabis
Cannabis is also known by the names Marijuana, weed, Ganja, pot, Dope, Yarndi, Mary Jane, Hooch, Hash, Joints, Brew, Reefers, Cones, Smoke, Mull, Buddha, Hydro, Heads and Green.
Cannabis plants produces a group of chemical compounds called cannabinoids which produces the “high” one experiences from consuming marijuana. The cannabinoids usually produced in greatest abundance is Delta 9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
How Cannabis affects the brain?
Once Marijuana is inhaled, its chemicals are distributed throughout the body. THC typically reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled and blocks or mimic the actions of neurotransmitter and hence, interfering with the normal functions. Neurotransmitters are those chemicals that allow neurons to communicate with each other.
Our brain has places where groups of cannabinoid receptors are concentrated especially in hippocampus, cerebellum and basal ganglia. The hippocampus is located within the temporal lobe and is important for short term memory. So, when THC binds with the cannabinoid receptors in the hippocampus, it interferes with recollection of recent events. THC also affects co-ordination, which is controlled by the cerebellum. The basal ganglia control unconscious muscle movements, which is another reason why motor co-ordination is impaired when under the influence of marijuana.