DIMAPUR:
Taking proactive steps in the war against drugs, the Nagaland police has made major seizures of various types contraband in the last one year.
According to an official release issued on March 3, as many as 217 cases were registered, and 309 persons were arrested in connection with the seizures.
The total seizure made by the respective district police and sleuths of narcotics cell included 91.7 kg opium, 8.3 kg heroin, 1.76 kg brown sugar, 2549 kg ganja, besides other narcotic substances and contraband goods.
Nagaland being a transit route for smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by drug peddlers, the police has been intensifying its efforts to track the backward and forward linkages too.
According to the police, most of the opioid drugs come via Manipur to Nagaland and exit to Assam through Dimapur.
As part of the ongoing mission to eradicate the menace of drugs, anti-drug drives have been conducted in all the districts. During the drives, absconding drug traffickers and bailees not attending court are targeted, drugs are disposed of and vehicles seized after intelligence collection and naka checkings, illicit cultivation of narcotics crops are identified and destroyed, trafficking of pharma drugs checked and awareness initiatives on drug abuse to the public taken.
To improve efficiency, the state police has also initiated capacity building measures especially in use of IT systems both in human resources and technological support systems to aid the police personnel in detection of drugs.
The police said any person indulging in drug abuse or drug trafficking will be sternly dealt with, as per provisions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.