Dimapur, Nov 13 (NNN): The Regional Conference of Heads of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of Sikkim and West Bengal was held on Thursday at Police Complex in Chumoukedima near Dimapur.
The conference aimed to strengthen coordination and develop effective strategies to curb drug trafficking and substance abuse across the region. The inaugural session began with a welcome address by R. Sudhakar, DDG (NER), NCB. He extended a warm welcome to all the participants and emphasised the need for constructive discussions in formulating effective strategies and a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the drug problem in the North-East, viewing the conference as an opportunity for States to unite in this common cause.
While delivering the keynote address, Nagaland DGP Rupin Sharma stated that the long and porous 1,643 km border with Myanmar, combined with challenging terrains and the governance turmoil in Myanmar, and its close proximity to the Golden Triangle (Myanmar -Laos- Thailand) makes the north-east states extremely vulnerable. “Drug trafficking and use are no longer merely law-and-order issues, but they are a direct threat to our internal security and the future of our youth”, he added.
The drugs and drug money flowing through these routes feed the nexus of organised crime, insurgency, and narco-terrorism; therefore, dismantling the drug cartels is synonymous with enhancing national security, the police officer also said.
Rupin then informed that Nagaland has an estimated 1.2 lakh drug users who consume heroin locally known as ‘shaanflower’ or ‘SF’ because of its traditional origins in the Shaan province of Myanmar.
For this conference, he proposed focusing on three key pillars: Co-ordination, Enforcement, and Accountability. Coordination among agencies, Coordination among the various pillars of the criminal justice system, Coordination between law enforcement and civilian wings of government with the public.
The Nagaland police chief then advised the law enforcement agencies to urgently scale up capabilities in communication surveillance, communications analysis through CDR and IPDR analysis, darknet analysis, cryptocurrency tracking, and digital forensics.
He recommended the establishment of a dedicated Northeast Anti-Drug Trafficking Agency, which would serve as a nodal point at the regional level, facilitating inter-state intelligence, managing border surveillance, and overseeing rehabilitation programs, with a director general at the helm. He also recognised the urgent need to strengthen the forensic infrastructure with new forensic labs, mobile units, and advanced technology upgrades—such as DNA profiling and mass spectrometry for swifter and more reliable drug analysis.
Rupin proposed the launching of the “Nasha Mukt Bharat Helpline and Reward System”, which provided a 24/7 platform for anonymous reporting of drug activities, with multi-lingual support and financial rewards for information leading from small dealer arrests to dismantling major trafficking cartels. He also advocated for comprehensive legal reforms under the NDPS Act.
