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Narco-Terrorism Emergency in Northeast: COCOMI Demands Urgent Action

FILE PHOTO of contraband drugs seized by Assam Police.
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COCOMI cautions that failure to act decisively will have “severe consequences, both nationally and internationally.” The committee warns that continued inaction could turn Northeast India into a hotbed for transnational organized crime, with far-reaching security implications.

TFM Report

Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has issued an urgent memorandum to the Chief Ministers of Northeast India, calling for the immediate declaration of a Narco-Terrorist Emergency in the region. The appeal, addressed to the Chief Ministers of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura, warns of an escalating crisis driven by rampant drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and the alleged involvement of powerful actors across the Indo-Myanmar border.

COCOMI submitting the same memorandum to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh

Drug Tunnels and Transnational Networks

COCOMI’s memorandum cites alarming intelligence reports, including revelations of a sophisticated underground tunnel along the Myanmar-Mizoram border, allegedly used for smuggling drugs into Indian territory. The memorandum references exclusive reports from News18 and The People’s Chronicle, which claim that the tunnel is large enough to accommodate heavy vehicles, suggesting organized smuggling operations with external backing.

The committee has raised concerns about the alleged collusion of influential groups in Mizoram and Myanmar’s Chin State, along with external forces suspected of pushing an agenda to establish a “Christian State” (Zo-land) spanning India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.

Shocking Drug Seizures in the Northeast

The memo presents staggering statistics on drug seizures, revealing the depth of the crisis:

  • Manipur (March 2022 – May 2023):
    • ₹1,672 crore ($193 million) worth of narcotics confiscated.
    • Over 764 arrests under the NDPS Act.
  • Mizoram (April 2024 – January 2025):
    • ₹355 crore ($43 million) worth of drugs seized, including 31 kg methamphetamine and 6 kg heroin.
  • Assam (2023):
    • Drugs valued at ₹682 crore seized, including 183 kg heroin, 22,776 kg ganja, and 33.07 lakh psychotropic tablets.

The memorandum warns that 90% of drugs entering Northeast India originate from Myanmar, facilitated by a porous 1,643-kilometer border and weak enforcement measures.

ALSO READ: https://thefrontiermanipur.com/comprehensive-analysis-of-drug-seizures-in-north-east-india-2000-2025/

Narco-Terrorism or Ethnic Conflict

COCOMI strongly disputes claims by the Union Home Minister that the ongoing Manipur crisis is purely an ethnic conflict. Instead, it argues that narco-terrorism and geopolitical factors are fueling unrest, with organized drug cartels using the turmoil as a cover for expanding their trade.

“The crisis in Manipur is not merely about ethnic tensions. It is a well-orchestrated attack on the indigenous population, destabilizing the region through narco-terrorism,” the memorandum states.

COCOMI’s Demands to NE Chief Ministers

To combat this growing menace, COCOMI has laid out six key demands:

  1. Declare Northeast India a “Narco-Terrorist Emergency Zone.”
  2. Set up a Special Anti-Narcotics Bureau for the region, with transparent operations and coordination among states.
  3. Recognize and publicly acknowledge the impact of narco-terrorism in the Indo-Myanmar border areas.
  4. Investigate the alleged involvement of powerful individuals and organizations in Manipur, Mizoram, and Myanmar’s Chin State in drug trafficking.
  5. Dismantle drug smuggling tunnels and illegal arms networks along the border.
  6. Develop a long-term security and resolution strategy to address the Manipur crisis and its links to narco-terrorism.

A Warning for the Future

COCOMI cautions that failure to act decisively will have “severe consequences, both nationally and internationally.” The committee warns that continued inaction could turn Northeast India into a hotbed for transnational organized crime, with far-reaching security implications.

With tensions rising and drug cartels expanding their grip on the region, all eyes are now on the Chief Ministers of Northeast India and the Government of India. Will they act before it’s too late?

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