Morung Express News
Dimapur| August 22
While Nagaland is trying to live up to its name of being a ‘dry state,’ the flow of drugs and alcohol continues unabated. Concerted efforts are being taken by the Department of Excise, Narcotic Cell, to curb the supply of narcotics in the state but with little success. Nagaland, especially Dimapur falling under the infamous ‘golden triangle’ only adds to the difficulties being faced by the Excise department. The first seizure of contraband was made in 1985 and since then the department made numerous seizures from all corners of the state.
Shedding light on the narcotic supply reduction in Nagaland at the two days Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) consultative meet in Dimapur on August 20, the Excise department said seizure of contraband is highest in Nagaland among the north east states. A department official said that porous borders in places like Noklak, Kiphire, Mon etc, have increased the supply of hard drugs. The most common supply of contraband drugs smuggled thought the porous borders are opium, brown sugar and heroine. Ganja and life-saving drugs like spasmo proxyvon are smuggled mainly from Manipur and Assam. The department pointed out that use of cheap pharmaceutical drugs smuggled from Assam has increased considerably. Since life- saving drugs are cheap and affordable, most users have now turned to it, the official said.
With no mechanisms to keep check at the porous borders, smuggling drugs has become easy, the department official said. After the Prohibition Act came into force, the government had abolished Excise check gates at several places. In this regard, the official said that the department has forwarded a proposal to the government for setting up check gates at sensitive posts. The department also suggested setting up separate check posts for Excise.
In several district of the state, the department is also faced with inadequate manpower, the official said. Some Excise outposts have as less as two staffs. The department said drug smuggling which started in Dimapur and Kohima is now widespread. The drugs make their way across the entire state making it virtually impossible for the department to keep check. Dimapur has further been identified as the transit point of drug smuggling by the department.
