Nagaland Excise commissioner, Maongwati Aier, leading the destruction of drugs on the ‘International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.’
38 lakhs worth of drugs destroyed on International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking
DIMAPUR, JUNE 26 (MExN): On the occasion of International Day against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking, the Nagaland Excise department today destroyed assorted drugs worth Rs. 38, 54, 800 and pledged a ‘fight to the finish’ on the war against drug abuse and drug trafficking.
The drugs consigned to the flames included 810 kg ganja, 2 kg opium, 38,610 Spasmo Proxyvon capsules, 34,510 Relipen tablets, 12,450 Nitrosun tablets, 8,800 Oxfom tablets, 1,00,750 Action BR tablets and 2,000 cough syrup bottles. The drugs were seized between May 2012 and May 2013 in Dimapur.
Earlier, at a programme held at the Excise Directorate to commemorate the Day, Commissioner of Excise, Maongwati Aier spoke on the topic “Drug trafficking scenario and its impact on society.”
He said that the menace of drug abuse and trafficking is spreading like a wildfire.
In the context of Nagaland, the Excise commissioner said the state shares nearly 1,600 km of international border with Myanmar and is “most unfortunate” to be situated adjacent to the infamous “Golden Triangle” from where the bulk of heroin drug are produced.
These drugs are then smuggled out through Myanmar via Moreh, crossing Manipur and touching Nagaland, where some of the drugs find place in the local market.
Aier said that of late, many hard drug addicts have switched over to pharmaceutical drugs due to easy and cheap accessibility of these alternative drugs. “It is very unfortunate to note that Nagaland has been ranked 6th in the country in HIV/AIDS prevalence and the magnitude of the problem is very grim, as most of the youths in the age group 15-25 years are vulnerable and effected by drug abuse, due to exchange and sharing of syringe and multiple change of partner and unsafe sex,” he said. He cautioned that society cannot remain complacent and pretend to be immune anymore.
The Excise commissioner informed the State Excise Department is keeping strict vigil round the clock and trying its best with all available resources at its disposal to check drug trafficking. Aier informed that as per records, Nagaland ranks highest in seizures and convictions of drug traffickers in the North East Region.
He appealed to all agencies and NGOs working towards eradicating the menace of drug trafficking to chart a “roadmap” with follow up action and a multi-pronged approach to combat the menace. District & session judge, S Hukato Swu, said the “potentiality of drugs” can cause a country or an empire to fall and cited the debilitating effect of opium on Chinese society and army just before the Opium war between China and Great Britain. Hukato said that drug is always interlinked with money, guns and violence. The session judge also informed that of the 21 drug cases he has disposed so far, 17 ended in convictions.
Deputy Commissioner, Excise (Narcotics), Pitongse Sangtam chaired the programme and Additional Commissioner, Excise, Bendangtoshi Ao proposed vote of thanks.
