A Growing Threat in Northeast India
In a significant development, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has called upon the Indian government to declare Northeast India a “Narco-Terrorist Emergency Zone.” This demand comes in the wake of escalating drug trafficking activities in the region, particularly along the porous Indo-Myanmar border. COCOMI, a key civil society organization in Manipur, has raised alarm over the worsening situation, pointing to large-scale drug smuggling operations that pose a grave threat to national security.
In its memorandum to the central government, COCOMI has cited intelligence reports and extensive drug seizures to emphasize that Northeast India is fast becoming a hub for narco-terrorism. One of the most concerning revelations is the discovery of a sophisticated underground tunnel along the Myanmar-Mizoram border, allegedly used for large-scale drug trafficking. The tunnel is reportedly large enough to accommodate heavy vehicles, indicating a well-organized smuggling network with possible external backing.
COCOMI warns that if decisive action is not taken immediately, the entire region could become a stronghold for transnational organized crime, destabilizing India’s internal security and its borders with neighboring Myanmar.
Alarming Statistics on Drug Seizures in Northeast India
The scale of drug trafficking in Northeast India has reached alarming levels, as evidenced by the staggering volume of drug seizures across different states. According to COCOMI, the following statistics illustrate the severity of the crisis:
1. Manipur (March 2022 – May 2023):
- Narcotics worth ₹1,672 crore seized.
- Over 764 individuals arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
2. Mizoram (April 2024 – January 2025):
- Drugs valued at ₹355 crore confiscated.
- 31 kg of methamphetamine and 6 kg of heroin seized in major operations.
3. Assam (2023):
- Seizures worth ₹682 crore recorded.
- Confiscated drugs included 183 kg of heroin, 22,776 kg of ganja, and 33.07 lakh psychotropic tablets.
COCOMI has stressed that nearly 90% of the drugs entering Northeast India originate from Myanmar, facilitated by a 1,643-kilometer-long porous border and weak law enforcement. The massive influx of narcotics into India is fueling social unrest, economic instability, and violence, making it imperative for the central government to intervene.
The Link Between Narco-Terrorism and Conflict in Manipur
COCOMI has also challenged the dominant narrative that the ongoing crisis in Manipur is purely an ethnic conflict. Instead, it argues that narco-terrorism and geopolitical factors play a crucial role in the unrest.
According to the organization, certain groups and individuals with vested interests are using drug trafficking as a means to fund militancy and destabilize the region. The profits from narcotics smuggling are being funneled into illegal arms purchases, further intensifying violence and lawlessness.
The security implications of this crisis are enormous, as unchecked narco-terrorism could lead to:
- Increased violence between different communities in Northeast India.
- Militant organizations using drug money to expand their operations.
- Greater involvement of international cartels in Indian territory.
- Compromised border security, allowing illegal arms and insurgents to enter India.
Given these dangers, COCOMI has urged the government to shift its approach from treating the Manipur crisis as an ethnic dispute to recognizing it as a serious national security issue driven by narco-terrorism.
COCOMI’s Six Urgent Demands to the Government
To combat the rising threat of drug trafficking and its associated security risks, COCOMI has put forward six key demands for immediate action:
1. Declare Northeast India a “Narco-Terrorist Emergency Zone”
COCOMI wants the central government to officially recognize the severity of the crisis by designating the region as a Narco-Terrorist Emergency Zone. This declaration would allow for special security measures, stricter enforcement, and coordinated crackdowns on drug cartels.
2. Establish a Special Anti-Narcotics Bureau for Northeast India
A dedicated Anti-Narcotics Bureau should be set up to oversee and coordinate efforts between different states in the region. This bureau must have advanced surveillance capabilities, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and a transparent system to prevent corruption within law enforcement agencies.
3. Recognize and Address Narco-Terrorism in the Indo-Myanmar Border Areas
COCOMI demands that the government formally acknowledge the nexus between drug cartels, militant groups, and foreign actors operating in the Indo-Myanmar border regions. Recognizing this issue is crucial for developing a long-term counter-narcotics strategy.
4. Investigate High-Profile Individuals Involved in Drug Trafficking
The memorandum calls for a high-level probe into powerful individuals and organizations suspected of involvement in drug trafficking in Manipur, Mizoram, and Myanmar’s Chin State. Identifying and dismantling these networks is essential to curb the drug trade.
5. Destroy Drug Smuggling Tunnels and Illegal Arms Networks
COCOMI has specifically highlighted the underground tunnels along the Myanmar border that are being used to smuggle drugs and weapons into India. It has urged the government to conduct immediate search-and-destroy operations to shut down these smuggling routes permanently.
6. Develop a Comprehensive Long-Term Security Strategy
A multi-pronged approach is needed to tackle the crisis, combining law enforcement, border security, and socio-economic development. COCOMI insists that any strategy must involve strict monitoring of cross-border activities, investment in anti-drug education, and rehabilitation programs for drug addicts.
A Call for Immediate Action
COCOMI’s plea to the central government underscores the urgent need for a decisive and coordinated response to the growing narco-terrorism crisis in Northeast India. The rising scale of drug trafficking, its links to armed conflict, and the deepening instability in the region demand immediate intervention.
Without prompt action, Northeast India risks becoming a major hub for transnational drug cartels, threatening not only the region’s security but also the entire nation’s stability. COCOMI has made it clear that the government cannot afford to ignore this escalating crisis any longer.
The ball is now in the central government’s court—will it take the necessary steps to combat this growing threat, or will it allow the situation to spiral out of control? The answer will shape the future of Northeast India in the years to come.
About The Author
