The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has reported a significant increase in the seizure of methamphetamine, also known as ‘ice’ or ‘crystal meth’, in the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram in 2024, highlighting the growing challenge of drug trafficking in the region.
The surge in seizures of the narcotic drug has become a major concern for law enforcement agencies, particularly due to the porous nature of the borders in the northeastern region, which facilitates the movement of illegal substances. Key areas such as Moreh and Churachandpur in Manipur, along with Zokhawthar in Mizoram, have been identified as hotspots for drug trafficking.
The DRI noted that the remote forest areas and rivers along the Indo-Myanmar border provide smuggling routes that are difficult to detect, offering traffickers a way to evade law enforcement agencies. Once smuggled, the drugs are transported across the northeastern states and to other parts of India using road and rail networks, often through personal and commercial vehicles, as shown in multiple cases uncovered by the DRI.
The report also revealed that methamphetamine is being smuggled into India via sea routes in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. Moreh, a town situated on the India-Myanmar border in Manipur, has emerged as a key hub for these operations.
According to the DRI, the first half of FY 2024-25 has witnessed a significant rise in methamphetamine seizures, with 123 kg of the drug being confiscated in 11 cases, compared to 136 kg in 8 cases during the entire FY 2023-24. This upward trend, highlighted in the DRI’s April-September report, reflected the escalating challenge of combating methamphetamine smuggling in the region.