AGARTALA: The Tripura police has declared Myanmar as serious a “threat” in its fight against drug menace in the state.
Highlighting heroin as the primary smuggled drug, Bhanupada Chakraborty, Superintendent of Police for North Tripura district, revealed that the drugs entering the state predominantly originate from Myanmar, using Mizoram as a “transit point”.
The police officer further admitted that the North district’s 107 km long boundary with Mizoram is a cause of major concern for law enforcement agencies as most of the drugs from Myanmar enter the state through that border.
“Law enforcement agencies are working hard to curb drug trafficking menace but smuggling of drugs especially heroin continues along the inter-state border”, Chakraborty was quoted as saying by the press.
Compounding the issue is the scarcity of staff at police stations along the inter-state border. Three police stations- Damcherra, Khedacherra and Vangmum share 107 km inter-state border with Mizoram and currently are working with a skeleton staff, informed an officer of the Damcherra Police station.
He further added that currently there are only two sub-inspectors, one inspector and six to eight constables and some Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans in the station.
“It is very difficult to maintain close control at Nripen Chakraborty setu (bridge) which connects Mizoram’s Mamit district to Damcherra in North Tripura,” he told the press.
According government data, till August, 2023, a total of 746 people were booked in connection with 445 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases and contraband items including heroin amounting to Rs 91.84 crore was seized during the period, according to a police report.
