Aizawl, Feb 10: The Mizoram government has announced a tough crackdown on cross-border areca nut smuggling, warning that no one, including government officials and police personnel, will be spared if found involved in the illegal trade.
State Home Minister K. Sapdanga said the Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government was determined to eliminate areca nut smuggling, which he claimed had historically involved politicians and sections of the police. Addressing a gathering at the ZPM office in Aizawl, Sapdanga said the administration had already begun cleansing the system of such elements.
He alleged that the opposition had been targeting the government’s anti-smuggling drive, but asserted that politicians linked to the illegal trade had been rejected by voters, while police personnel found complicit were being retired. “Anyone involved in areca nut smuggling, whether in active service or civilians, will face strict action,” the home minister said.
Sapdanga said restrictions on foreign imports had benefited local areca nut growers, particularly in the Hachhek area of Mamit district, where demand for locally produced areca nut has risen following the crackdown.
The home minister also announced the intensification of ‘Operation Jericho’, a joint initiative launched in September last year by the home and excise departments in coordination with civil society organisations, including the Young Mizo Association (YMA). The operation aims to curb the growing problem of drug trafficking and addiction in the state.
Highlighting the severity of the issue, Sapdanga said Aizawl alone had more than 10,000 drug addicts, making the state capital increasingly unsafe after dark.
To strengthen law enforcement, he said the government plans to recruit 200 new police personnel to reinforce the state’s depleted police force.
