Drug cartels may be attempting to incite violence in parts of the Northeast to revive disrupted drug-smuggling networks, according to intelligence inputs cited in an IANS report.
An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official, quoted in the report, said several states in the region remained vulnerable to violence. The official said attempts to disrupt the security chain could allow drugs to enter the Northeast and be smuggled to other parts of the country.
“The idea is to break the security chain so that drugs can flow freely into the region and then be smuggled across other parts of the country,” the official was quoted as saying.
According to the report, recent operations by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have significantly disrupted the operations of drug cartels. Officials said security agencies had managed to contain major drug operations originating from Myanmar despite challenges posed by rugged terrain and riverine areas.
An official said peace was a major deterrent to drug operations, as it allowed security agencies to remain focused on tackling drug-related activities and smuggling.
However, the official said, when peace was disrupted, the focus of security agencies could shift to domestic issues, giving drug cartels an opportunity to bring in narcotics and supply them to other parts of the country.
The report said the Modi government had taken the initiative to make India drug-free. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly emphasised that the war on drugs would be taken to its logical conclusion.
According to the report, multiple agencies have been working together against drug operations originating from Pakistan, Myanmar and southern Indian states. The report said these operations had achieved significant results over the preceding year.
Intelligence agencies have warned that drug cartels were attempting to weaken the morale of security agencies by diverting their attention towards domestic issues. An official said the cartels could seek to achieve this through disinformation campaigns and attempts to incite tensions.
“The end goal is to ensure that the whole of northeast burns,” an official was quoted as saying.
Another official said violence in the Northeast could benefit elements operating across the border. The official said such elements could exploit unrest not only to smuggle narcotics but also to supply arms and ammunition and push illegal immigrants and terrorists into the region.
The report identified heroin and Yaba, a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine, as drugs being brought into the region in large quantities. These drugs, according to the report, form the backbone of Myanmar-based cartels.
Officials said supplies had been significantly affected by action taken by Indian security agencies, creating difficulties for the cartels. The officials said the cartels would seek to use every available means to ensure that their supply chains and smuggling routes continued to function.
Intelligence officials have also warned that the cartels could attempt to exploit the upcoming Manipur elections, scheduled for 2027. According to the report, officials said election years were periods when such cartels could intensify their activities, as security agencies were occupied with ensuring the peaceful and fair conduct of elections.
The report said drug cartels, terror groups and other smugglers could seek to take advantage of gaps in security during such periods to continue their activities.
The report also cited a recent NCB operation in which Yaba tablets worth Rs 50 crore were seized in Guwahati. Two operatives were arrested in connection with the case.
The NCB has prepared a list of absconding accused and launched a manhunt to trace them, according to the report. An official said enforcement actions had become more frequent and were causing major problems for drug cartels.
The official said the cartels were desperate to restore their operations and supply routes and could attempt further activities in the Northeast. (With inputs from IANS)