Assam police seize drugs worth over Rs 8 cr, 3 held

Police in Assam’s Cachar district recently seized 1.357 kg of morphine valued at Rs 8.2 crore and arrested three persons , once again underlining the persistent challenge of drug trafficking in the northeastern region .

The Northeast has remained vulnerable to the narcotics trade due to its proximity to the Golden Triangle , a major drug-producing region comprising Myanmar, Laos and Thailand . Drugs such as heroin, morphine and synthetic narcotics are smuggled into India through porous international borders , forested terrain and riverine routes, particularly via Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland . Security agencies say Assam often serves as a transit route , with consignments moved onward to other parts of the country.

In response, the Assam government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards drug trafficking , with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma repeatedly asserting that drug networks will not be allowed to operate in the state . The government has stepped up intelligence-based operations , increased coordination with central agencies including the Narcotics Control Bureau and border guarding forces , and intensified surveillance in vulnerable districts . Other northeastern states have also strengthened inter-state coordination and enforcement , while expanding rehabilitation and de-addiction efforts to address drug abuse alongside supply-side measures.

Officials maintain that sustained enforcement , improved border management and community awareness are essential to curbing the drug menace in the region .