IMFL cross-border smuggling links Arunachal, Myanmar and Nagaland

Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 29

One of the unintended consequences of the Nagaland Liquor (Total Prohibition) (NLTP) Act has been the rise of an illegal liquor trade, commonly referred to as the 'black market.'

The smuggling of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) has long been a concern along 512-kilometre largely porous border between Assam and Nagaland. Now, this illicit trade seems to have expanded even further. A cross-border smuggling network now connects the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland with Myanmar, facilitating a thriving market for IMFL.

Nagaland officially shares a 64-kilometre state border with Arunachal Pradesh and a 215-kilometre international border with Myanmar.

While the NLTP Act aims to prohibit the possession, sale, consumption, and manufacture of liquor in Nagaland, it has inadvertently led to the growth of a smuggling operation that exploits the porous Indo-Myanmar border and local villagers who transport alcohol across challenging routes.

From Tirap to Mon
According to a source familiar with the operations, one of the key routes for this trade begins in Pongchao (Pangchao), a small town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district, approximately 315 km from Itanagar. 

Pongchao and Longwa, located in Nagaland’s Mon district, are only about 45 km apart as the crow flies. 

Thanks to a new direct road between Longwa and Pongchao, smugglers can make the trip in about 2-3 hours on foot, a significant reduction from the 180-kilometer circuitous National Highway route through Sonari in Assam.

Villagers, who typically earn between Rs 200-300 and more per trip, navigate this challenging terrain on foot or by motorcycle, the source added.

The crossings generally occur under the cover of night or during the early morning hours when the risk of detection is lower.
The illicit liquor trade thrives in Longwa due to its proximity to Myanmar, where alcohol consumption is not restricted and there is high demand for IMFL in remote areas.

Extending the network to Myanmar
The illicit liquor trade originating from Pongchao extends to Naga villages in Myanmar, starting from Khammoi and beyond, all the way to Lahe Township in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region.

Motorcycle couriers, chosen for their ability to navigate narrow and rugged routes, are frequently used to transport the alcohol as they navigate their way down to Lahe. 

Villagers, regardless of age, are employed to carry the contraband in bamboo baskets and other makeshift carriers, it was informed. 

For many villagers, this trade has become one of the few viable sources of income in a region with limited economic opportunities. These couriers bypass checkpoints and take rural paths that connect Myanmar. 

The source also revealed that there is considerable demand for IMFL among Naga national workers in Myanmar.

The involvement of Myanmar adds another dimension to the smuggling ring, transforming it into an international operation bypassing both Indian and Myanmar laws. 

Surprisingly, the trade does not end in Lahe. Smuggled alcohol from Pongchao also finds its way into Noklak district, which shares a border with Myanmar and lies on the opposite side of Longwa.

Flow of contraband in both directions
The flow of contraband, however, is not one-sided. While smuggled IMFL from India makes its way into Myanmar, there is also a significant reverse route. 

Myanmar liquor, along with other contraband such as shanflower (sunflower), heroin, and various drugs, reportedly, are being smuggled into Nagaland, particularly into the districts of Mon and Noklak, along the porous Indo-Myanmar border.

Efforts to combat the menace
In Longwa, the village council, student union, and church have been reportedly at the forefront of efforts to combat the rising tide of drugs and alcohol smuggling in the area. 

These organisations have on numerous occasions consistently cautioned individuals involved in peddling such substances within the village, urging them to cease their activities for the greater good of the community.

Despite the combined efforts of these organisations as well as Village Guard post, the flow of contraband remains a persistent issue, primarily due to the absence of check gates and the strategic location of the village.

Longwa is surrounded by dense jungles, which smugglers exploit by creating their own routes to bypass detection. This natural terrain, along with the lack of proper monitoring infrastructure, has made it difficult for local authorities to curb the illicit trade effectively.  

This has contributed to rising addiction, with significant social and health impacts as well as overall social and community well-being.