Mizoram and Assam to join forces to combat drug smuggling

AIZAWL: Mizoram excise and narcotics minister Lalnghinglova Hmar on Wednesday held a meeting with Assam's excise officials and discussed the possibility of concerted efforts to combat drug smuggling and drug abuse in the two northeastern states, an official statement here said. 

Although Hmar was supposed to meet his Assam counterpart Keshab Mahanta, the latter could not be available due to unavoidable works, it said. 

During an interaction with Assam's excise secretary Indreswar Kalita and excise commissioner Jitu Doley, Hmar told them that heroin smuggled into Assam from Myanmar is re-smuggled into Mizoram after being reprocessed. 

He said that he received reports about a huge consignment of heroin and other drugs being smuggled into Assam and drug peddlers roaming freely in the state. 

Officials of Assam told Hmar that they will look into the matter and discuss it with the state excise minister. 

During the meeting, both sides also discussed collective efforts to combat drug smuggling and drug abuse in both states. 

They also agreed to hold the next round of talks in the near future. 

Meanwhile, Hmar communicated with Mahanta over the phone and both agreed to hold talks among officials of excise and narcotics departments from both states to discuss the matter pertaining to the challenges faced by both states in connection with drug smuggling.