Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 6
A total of 203 cases of narcotic drugs and other drugs were detected and registered by the Excise Department during the last five years. This information was provided by Deputy Commissioner of Excise (Narcotic Cell) Nagaland, S Chanlei Angh during a one-day workshop on “Illicit Drugs & Alcohol: Trends, Usage and Treatment” held at Excise Commissioner’s conference hall, Dimapur on Wednesday.
The articles seized include Cocaine-140 gram, Ganja/Cannabis- 3685kg, Heroin/Brown Sugar/Sunflower-430 gram, Methamphetamine- 4200 tablets, other drugs- 11,66,407 capsules/tablets, Codeine Cough Syrup- 18,551 bottles, Opium- 8.375 kg, IMFL/Beer-4,10,275 bottles and Country Liquor-32,277 litre (Rohi/Sigmai).
Angh informed that the main entry point of narcotic drugs to Nagaland was from Manipur through National Highway 39. However, he also added that a sizeable quantity enters the state through the porous border with Assam from mainland India and also Myanmar. He said that the porous border and limited manpower had made the job of the department quite difficult. Angh further said that the close proximity of Dimapur and Assam (Lahorijan and Balijan area) was one of the biggest hurdles for preventive action. “The modus operandi at present is stocking drugs and liquor in Assam and supplying to Dimapur in smaller quantities. Another new trend is, the smugglers are using young children to deliver drugs which are very hard to detect,” he said.
He added that besides the enforcement duties, the department earns revenue through bonded warehouses for military/paramilitary and fine imposed on liquor sellers amounting to an average of Rs 5 crore per year.
Also speaking as the special guest, Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Kevekha Kevin Zehol noted that the issue was of paramount importance since substance abuse in the state had reached alarming figures making the state stand at second position. He said the issue was no more only the duty of Excise or Police but everybody has to take responsibility. “We should stop blame game and take joint responsibility and let us try to erase the second position,” he appealed. Towards this, the DC said NGOs could play an important and effective role and urged them to suggest ideas to the government on different aspects of the issue. He urged upon the people not to be a part of the problem but to be a part of the solution.
During the workshop, resource persons from Police Department, Bethesda Rehab Centre, Department of Social Welfare, Dimapur Baptist Pastors’ Fellowship, Life Challenge Rehab Centre, Bethesda Youth Welfare Society, Shalom Rehab Centre and Prodigals’ Home also addressed the gathering. The workshop was jointly organized by Prodigals’ Home and Excise Department, Dimapur.
