In a major month-long operation near the Myanmar border, Mizoram police have seized narcotics with an estimated street value of over ₹100 million (approximately $1.2 million). The crackdown, focused on the Champhai district, is part of a broader state initiative named “Operation Jericho” that began on September 1st and is set to continue through the end of the year.
Authorities reported confiscating significant quantities of illegal substances, including over 3.2 kilograms of heroin and nearly 75 kilograms of methamphetamine tablets. The operation has so far led to 19 registered cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and 25 arrests.
The strategic district of Champhai, which shares a border with Myanmar’s Chin State, has been a primary focus due to a rising influx of drugs. Officials expressed growing concerns about public drug use and its threat to community safety.
Separate data from the Champhai Excise and Narcotics Department detailed additional seizures in September alone, amounting to 2.7 kilograms of heroin and 42 kilograms of methamphetamine, resulting in eight more cases and 10 arrests.
The crackdown has, however, raised concerns among the community of Myanmar refugees residing in Mizoram. Some fear the operation could lead to increased discrimination in employment and access to aid. This comes amid reports that biometric data of Myanmar nationals has been collected recently under a central government directive. The influential local civil society group, the Young Mizo Association (YMA), is supporting the anti-drug campaign.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, state data shows that from 2020 to August 2025, Mizoram recorded 351 drug-related deaths, 78 of which were linked to heroin.
India’s Home Minister recently addressed the national threat of drug trafficking, citing the country’s proximity to major drug-producing regions as a key reason for intensifying border security. In a parallel effort, India is constructing fencing along 1,643 kilometers of its border with Myanmar to counter cross-border drug trafficking and illegal migration.
