November 13, 2025 | Dimapur

Nagaland’s Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma on Thursday warned that drug trafficking and abuse in the Northeast constitute both a public health emergency and a national security threat, urging states in the region to adopt a coordinated, technology-driven response.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTF) for the Northeast Region, co-hosted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Nagaland Police in Chumoukedima, Sharma emphasized the strategic importance of the Northeast in India’s fight against narcotics, noting its proximity to the Golden Triangle and the porous India-Myanmar border.

“The India-Myanmar border, largely unfenced and under the Free Movement Regime, allows traffickers to blend with ethnic kin and cross unchecked. Drug trafficking and abuse are no longer just law-and-order issues — they are direct threats to internal security and the future of our youth,” Sharma warned.

Scale of the Problem

Sharma cited estimates indicating that Nagaland alone has approximately 1.2 lakh drug users, with heroin, locally called “Shaanflower”, being the most commonly abused substance. He quantified the scale:

“Even if half of them consume half a gram daily, it translates to over 10,000 kilograms of heroin per year for Nagaland alone — and roughly one lakh kilograms for the entire Northeast.”

The DGP highlighted the broader implications, pointing out that illicit drug trade fuels organized crime, insurgency, and narco-terrorism, with several insurgent cadres directly involved in trafficking.

“Dismantling drug cartels is synonymous with enhancing national security,” Sharma asserted.

Proposed Operational Framework

Sharma outlined a three-pronged operational framework for the Northeast: coordination, enforcement, and accountability. He stressed that poor coordination among states has allowed traffickers to exploit jurisdictional gaps.

“We must move from a ‘need to share’ to a ‘duty to share’ mindset,” he said, proposing joint interrogations via video conferencing within 24 hours of arrests across states.

He also urged the use of modern investigative tools including communication surveillance, darknet analysis, cryptocurrency tracking, and digital forensics. Full compliance with the NIDAAN portal and real-time intelligence sharing was emphasized to improve operational efficiency.

Sharma encouraged states to utilize NCORD and ANTF meetings for preemptive intelligence sharing, particularly regarding traffickers, financiers, couriers, and mule accounts.

Tackling Synthetic Drugs and Financial Crime

Sharma raised alarms over the rise of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine and WY tablets, and stressed the use of drones, satellite mapping, and AI-assisted tools to identify poppy cultivation and hidden labs.

On the financial front, he called for tighter coordination with banks and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), noting that while banking operates 24×7, law enforcement’s interface remains limited to office hours.

“Our efforts are fruitless if legal processes fail,” Sharma warned, urging improved documentation of conspiracy, preparation, and attempt in NDPS cases and the creation of shared criminal databases with biometrics and photographs accessible to all agencies.

Policy Recommendations

At the policy level, Sharma proposed a comprehensive amendment to the NDPS Act, 1985, to reflect modern challenges and introduce graded sentencing. He also suggested:

• Establishing a Northeast Anti-Drug Trafficking Agency for regional coordination.
• Setting up dedicated narcotics forensic labs in every state and deploying mobile forensic units.
• Launching a “Nasha Mukt Bharat Helpline & Reward System” to encourage public reporting of drug-related activities.
• Creating uniform preventive detention guidelines under PITNDPS to prevent misuse or underuse.

Technology-Driven Policing

Sharma shared Nagaland Police’s technology-driven initiatives, including:

• AI-assisted lawful intercept transcription in collaboration with NIT Mizoram.
• ANPR cameras on trafficking routes.
• Facial recognition systems to monitor suspect vehicles and individuals.

Rehabilitation and Community Engagement

The DGP emphasized that rehabilitation is a victory against cartels. He called for NGO, church, and civil society engagement to address addiction, stating:

“A recovered addict is a success story for the community. We must integrate law enforcement with public health.”

Focus of the Conference

Sharma urged participants to go beyond sharing achievements and instead focus on sharing problems, solutions, and unresolved issues for escalation to the national level.

“The battle against drugs is a prolonged war fought on challenging frontiers. Let us target the kingpins, strengthen inter-agency trust, and secure the future of the Northeast for a truly Drug-Free India,” he concluded.

The conference is set to continue over two days, discussing cross-border trafficking, identification and destruction of illicit crops, and the regional drug trafficking scenario, with a focus on building a unified strategy to combat the growing menace.