Guwahati: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has reported a surge in seizures of the narcotic drug Methamphetamine in the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram in 2024.
The seizure of Methamphetamine, also known as ‘ice’ or ‘crystal meth’, has become a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies in India, especially due to the porous nature of the northeastern borders.
The DRI stated that key areas such as Moreh and Churachandpur in Manipur, and Zokhawthar in Mizoram, are highly susceptible to drug trafficking.
Remote forest areas and rivers along the Indo-Myanmar border offer smugglers and drug traffickers clandestine routes to evade detection.
Smuggled drugs are subsequently transported to other northeastern states and regions of the country via road and rail networks, often utilizing carriers. Personal vehicles and commercial cargo transport vehicles are the favoured modes of transportation, as evidenced by various smuggling cases uncovered by the DRI.
According to a report by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, the smuggling trend indicates that Methamphetamine is being illegally brought into India through sea routes in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal.
The DRI stated that Moreh, a town situated on the India-Myanmar border in Manipur, has become a pivotal hub in these operations.
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The DRI reported a significant increase in methamphetamine seizures in the first half of FY 2024-25, with 123 kg confiscated in 11 cases compared to 136 kg in 8 cases for the entire FY 2023-24. This trend, highlighted in the DRI’s April-September report, underscores the growing challenge posed by methamphetamine smuggling.
