MIZORAM GETS US AID IN COMBATING DRUG MENACE

KOLKATA: The Mizoram excise department, on Thursday, became the first
Indian state agency to receive US governmental aid for combating drug
trafficking. At a simple ceremony in Kolkata, Mizoram excise
commissioner L Khiangte received part of the hardware from Robert
Bruce Barnes, country attache of US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Also present on the occasion was Sabra Thornton, coordinator, Regional
Crime and Narcotics Affairs, US Embassy, New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, Robert Burnes said that usually such
assistance is requisitioned by law enforcement agencies as a reaction
to the menace. "We are extremely happy that the Mizoram government has
reached out for assistance," Burnes remarked. He pointed out that the
India-Myanmar border was a vulnerable point so far as drug-trafficking
was concerned area and that Myanmar was fast emerging as the
second-largest producer of heroin. It was also becoming a major
producer of amphetamines.

While Burnes reiterated the need for close cooperation between the
different agencies involved in anti-drug operations, Thornton pointed
stressed on the need for closer coordination between different
agencies in India and other countries so that the menace could be
tackled with a firm hand. She stressed the need to share information
and intelligence in this regard.

Speaking on the occasion, Mizoram excise commissioner L.Khiangte
expressed his gratitude for US assistance. He said that Mizoram's drug
menace, which assumed serious proportions since the 80s, was imported
from other places. "Once a demand was created, supplies automatically
found their way," Khiangte observed. He said that a number of
extremist groups were also involved in drug trafficking in the north-east.

Khiangte observed that despite being a nodal agency to combat drug
trafficking, the state law enforcement agencies were so long
handicapped due to shortage of funds and modern hardware. The US aid
will go a long way to mitigate these problems. The US equipment will
be used to modernise excise department in Mizoram, Khiangte said.