Northeast in the middle of a narco-terror crisis

Narco-terrorism is no longer a localized issue. The Golden Triangle, producing the majority of its opium in Myanmar, has evolved into a hub for synthetic drugs like methamphetamine.

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How does a region celebrated for its Hnatural beauty and cultural diversity also find itself at the crossroads of an insidious narco-terrorism crisis? Sharing around 1,643 km border with Myanmar, which is a key component of the infamous Golden Triangle (Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand), India's northeastern states, particularly Manipur, face the sinister nexus of narcotics, terrorism, and transnational crime. The resulting challenges threaten to undermine not just regional stability but also India's national security and international standing.

A BREWING THREAT

Narco-terrorism is no longer a localized issue. The Golden Triangle, producing the majority of its opium in Myanmar, has evolved into a hub for synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. These drugs enter India through porous borders, with Manipur serving as a primary gateway. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drug seizures in the region have surged in recent years, reflecting an alarming escalation in trafficking activities.

The impact extends beyond the drugs themselves.

The profits fund insurgent groups, sustaining their operations and weaponizing communities against the state. Groups such as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Liberation Army (PLA), small groups of Kukis and Zomis exploit the drug trade to finance arms purchases, build their camps to train recruits and use them to smuggle drugs, all in all, to perpetuate cycles of violence.

A Manipur Police report revealed that from March 2022 to May 2023, Rs 142 crores worth of narcotics were seized, with over 764 arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.