Mizoram destroys ₹11.82 crore worth of seized drugs in Aizawl
Synopsis
Mizoram incinerated over ₹11.82 crore worth of seized narcotics in Aizawl — heroin, opium, methamphetamine and more from 106 court-closed cases — even as fresh DRI seizures on the Aizawl–Champhai route expose just how active the Myanmar–Golden Triangle pipeline into India remains.
Key Takeaways
Mizoram destroyed seized drugs worth ₹11,82,13,173 at Bethani Multipurpose Farm, Phunchawng on 30 September .
Substances destroyed included 5.356 kg heroin , 19.430 kg ganja , 1.985 kg methamphetamine tablets , 89.9 kg codeine cough syrup , and 6.830 kg opium , drawn from 106 court-disposed cases.
The DRI seized 15 kg and 20 kg of methamphetamine tablets on the Aizawl–Champhai route in July and August respectively.
Mizoram launched its State Action Plan to Combat Drug Menace 2026–2029 on 28 September ; Tlangmawi in Khawzawl district became the state's first drug-free village.
Mizoram and Manipur share approximately 910 km of unfenced border with Myanmar , making them key transit corridors linked to the Golden Triangle .
Mizoram on Wednesday, 30 September destroyed seized narcotic substances valued at over ₹11.82 crore in Aizawl, marking a significant step in the state's intensified campaign against drug trafficking, according to officials. The disposal was carried out at Bethani Multipurpose Farm, Phunchawng, following the conclusion of court proceedings in the related cases.
What Was Destroyed
The Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department oversaw the destruction of substances drawn from 106 cases already disposed of by courts, in compliance with Section 51A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and the NDPS (Seizure, Storage, Sampling and Disposal) Rules, 2022. The consignment included 5.356 kg of heroin, 19.430 kg of ganja, 1.985 kg of methamphetamine tablets, 89.9 kg of codeine-based cough syrup, 0.418 kg of alprazolam, 0.04 kg of nitrazepam, and 6.830 kg of opium, with a combined estimated value of ₹11,82,13,173.
The Northeast Drug Corridor
Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as critical drug-trafficking corridors in India's Northeast, owing to their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and their proximity to the Golden Triangle — one of the world's primary illicit narcotics-producing regions. Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share approximately 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar.
Recent operations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have netted significant methamphetamine tablet seizures along the Aizawl–Champhai route, including 15 kg in July and 20 kg in August. Investigators have indicated that these consignments entered Mizoram from Myanmar through the Zokhawthar–Champhai sector. Besides methamphetamine, heroin and other narcotics are reportedly smuggled from Myanmar through Mizoram and onward to other parts of India and abroad via clandestine routes.
State-Level Action Plan Launched
On 28 September, Mizoram launched the State Action Plan to Combat Drug Menace 2026–2029, signalling a structured, multi-year approach to the crisis. In a symbolic milestone, Tlangmawi in Khawzawl district was declared Mizoram's first drug-free village.
What Officials Said
Commissioner of Excise and Narcotics Z. Lalhmangaiha said the drug destruction reflected coordinated efforts among the Mizoram Police, Central YMA, voluntary organisations, and other agencies. He called for continued public support to reinforce the state's anti-drug drive. Notably, the highly addictive methamphetamine tablets — commonly known as Yaba or party tablets — contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and are widely misused in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries, while codeine-based cough syrups, banned in India, are also in demand across the border.
With a new multi-year action plan now in place and the national campaign sharpening its focus on the Northeast frontier, authorities are expected to intensify both enforcement and community-level interventions in the months ahead.
Point of View
But the more telling numbers are the DRI's back-to-back methamphetamine hauls — 15 kg in July and 20 kg in August — on the same Aizawl–Champhai corridor. That pipeline is clearly active and growing. Mizoram's new three-year action plan and its first drug-free village are meaningful signals, but 910 km of unfenced border with Myanmar means enforcement alone cannot close the gap. Without sustained cross-border cooperation and livelihood alternatives in border districts, the cycle of seizure and destruction will keep repeating.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs were destroyed in Aizawl on 30 September?
The Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department destroyed 5.356 kg of heroin, 19.430 kg of ganja, 1.985 kg of methamphetamine tablets, 89.9 kg of codeine-based cough syrup, 0.418 kg of alprazolam, 0.04 kg of nitrazepam, and 6.830 kg of opium — all from 106 cases already disposed of by courts, with a combined value of ₹11,82,13,173.
Why is Mizoram a major drug-trafficking corridor?
Mizoram shares approximately 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar and is geographically close to the Golden Triangle, one of the world's largest illicit narcotics-producing regions. This makes it a key transit route for heroin, methamphetamine, and other substances entering India.
What is Mizoram's State Action Plan to Combat Drug Menace?
Launched on 28 September, the State Action Plan to Combat Drug Menace 2026–2029 is a structured, multi-year framework to tackle drug trafficking and abuse in Mizoram. The plan coincided with the declaration of Tlangmawi in Khawzawl district as the state's first drug-free village.
What recent drug seizures have been made on the Aizawl–Champhai route?
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 15 kg of methamphetamine tablets in July and 20 kg in August on the Aizawl–Champhai route. Investigators indicated the consignments had entered Mizoram from Myanmar through the Zokhawthar–Champhai sector.
Under which law were the drugs in Aizawl destroyed?
The destruction was carried out under Section 51A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and the NDPS (Seizure, Storage, Sampling and Disposal) Rules, 2022, after the related cases had been disposed of by courts.
