The Manipur government adheres to razing drug kingpins from the Golden Triangle
Manipur is making moderate but steady progress and development, focusing on physical connections, new infrastructure projects, promoting tourism, developing new educational institutions, and other relevant factors to facilitate a secure life and successful economy. By engaging with countries outside of Southeast Asia (SEA), this will further contribute to empowering the state and the people as a platform for India’s Act East Policy. The broad prevalence of drug trafficking across the permeable Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) and the rise in the number of drug users in the state, however, disturb this bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Although drug trafficking is not a recent phenomenon in the state, the enormous expansion of poppy production poses serious concerns for the north-eastern regions (NER) and the rest of India.
The State Government’s recent actions against drug cartels have caused tension; however the Manipur Government is not hostile towards the Kuki minority that calls the State home. Nongthombam Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, previously stated that his administration opposes drug gangs operating in the State, not to any particular community, whose members had previously been accused by some of being involved in the narcotics industry.
He issued a warning to those who are “trying to destroy the integrity of Manipur” and said that his government has been monitoring all developments taking place in the State.
The Chief Minister declared that the administration will not capitulate to any threat.
He also requested that the Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga, who participated in a massive march on Tuesday in Aizawl to show support for the Zo-Kuki people, refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of another State.
Manipur and Myanmar drug kingpins have formed a solid network
Manipur and Myanmar are two countries that drug mafias or kingpins have formed a solid network with in order to smuggle poppy out to the Golden Triangle and vice versa. In 2018, the state government started programmes like “Nisha Thadoklasi” and “War on Drugs” to eradicate such harmful dangers from the ground. The goal of this effort, led by Manipur’s Chief Minister Shri Nongthombam Biren, was to eradicate illegal poppy production in hill regions by limiting its trade and distribution by coercive and non-coercive means. But the recent drug seizures in Tengnoupal district of Manipur, which borders Myanmar, of 44.5 kg of “World is Yours” (WY) tablets, also known as “party drugs,” valued at Rs 9 crore, and a further few kg of WY tablets, valued at Rs 5 crore, in May and August 2022, respectively, demonstrated that it is a problem that requires serious action. There is no estimate of those confiscations that are not on record. Will the campaigns like ‘War on Drugs’ campaign be a solution to the issue in the state given the intricacy of the problem?
Among the substances that are readily available in the state are tobacco products, Ganja (marijuana), Alcohol, Opium, Spasmo Proxivon (SP), Methamphetamine (WY), Codeine cough syrup, Pseudo-Epherine, etc. Opium, methamphetamine, and heroin are among the drugs that are illegally carried from Myanmar to Manipur and Mizoram via Moreh and Champhai, respectively, via Lashio, Mandalay, and Bhamo. Drug mafias from nations like China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Nepal are now involved in drug trafficking in Manipur, which is no longer only a local activity. Similar networks exist in other northeastern states that border Myanmar to conduct this infamous and illegal trade.
Urea is in short supply in the state of Manipur due to the large proliferation of illegal poppy plants in isolated parts of the Ukhrul, Senapati, Kangpokpi, Kamjong, Churachanpur, and Tengnoupal districts. As a result, 963 drug traffickers, comprising 768 men and 195 women, were apprehended between April 27 and June 2019 in accordance with the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, according to the Manipur Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) department. Between 2020 and February 2021, law enforcement organisations eradicated 1,420 acres of poppy plantations. The same year, a hamlet in the Ukhrul district received a total financial award of Rs. 10 lakh from Chief Minister N Biren Singh for willingly eradicating poppy plants established in the village.
Nevertheless, the issue continues. Therefore, until the government examines the underlying causes of the issues and the factors that influence people to make bad decisions, this coercive strategy does not appear to be effective over the long term.
The poppy growers are among the most economically disadvantaged members of society. They battle for survival necessities on a constant basis. So they are forced to cultivate poppies since it is a lucrative industry, simple to grow alongside other crops, and available with inexpensive labour. Poppy farming is a “magic potion” for them to escape poverty, and drug lords provide the funding. However, using coercion to destroy poppies is not the best course of action. When the Taliban attempted to outlaw opium in Afghanistan and other nations like Thailand and Laos, this strategy was unsuccessful. Alternate approaches, such as implementing livelihood development programmes for the farmers to grow new crops like ginger, cardamom, and lemongrass as replacement crops to replace poppies, facilitating appropriate rehabilitation, and providing a just amount of compensation without labelling them as “poppy victims,” will instead gradually decrease the state’s opium production. The three countries mentioned above have found success with this alternative way. Without providing any alternatives or recompense for their crops, it will have a “balloon effect” and cause farmers to relocate their poppy production to the furthest reaches of the country. Similar to this, the drug mafias and kingpins will develop new, stronger networks with producers, smugglers, and traders in order to continue their operations.
According to reports, alcoholism and drug addiction are on the rise as a way for people to deal with the frustrations in life brought on by a lack of chances, poverty, unemployment, and broken families. They are also occasionally used for self-amusement or to go out with friends. Since these narcotics are widely accessible and inexpensive, drug addicts or abusers tend to be young people in the state. The government must thus pay close attention by considering how inadequate social institutions are at discouraging and preventing young people from engaging in this dangerous habit. Since raw opium and ganja were used as medication or a painkiller during delivery or for religious purposes in the past, their use is ingrained in Manipuri society’s customs and traditions. Alcohol is also utilised in a variety of social gatherings despite being prohibited since 1991. But the recent legalisation of alcohol sales in 2022 sparked discontent and calls for the government to rethink this choice. Therefore, if the government exclusively uses coercive techniques, it will be difficult to outlaw alcohol and stop the smuggling of illegal drugs.
The people’s development, skill development, and provision of employment opportunities, among other essentials of life, must be the government’s main priorities. All segments of society, including the local community, civil society organisations, the political class, student unions, and organisations in Manipur, should unite and fight against this social evil in addition to strict legislation against illegal narcotics and their associated activities. Additionally, the IMB needs to be examined given that this porous border is the point of entry for illegal substances into the state. If not, a new Golden Triangle will form in India’s northeast, rekindling the dormant conflict with money obtained from drugs.
Finally, if the issue of drug trafficking is not substantially addressed, Manipur, a possible pivot for India’s Act East programme connecting India with SEA states, will become an unsolvable security concern.
Comments are closed.