Even as State Government’s ‘Nesha Mukt Tripura’ Abhiyan has garnered a lot of support and success, the State is still exposed to grave drug threats owing to its geostrategic vulnerability as it is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides and the State’s close proximity with Myanmar which has emerged as the largest Methamphetamine producing area and world’s second-largest source of Opium.
Another issue that the State is facing is that despite huge seizures of contraband, the menace of drug abuse remains unabated. The security agencies made several arrests – however, most of the apprehended individuals are either victims or transporters – the big players remain unscathed.
In view of the present context, Tripura Judicial Academy under the aegis of the High Court of Tripura organized a seminar on “Cross Border Organized Crimes (NDPS, Human Trafficking & Terror Funding etc) – Impact assessment and Legal solutions” on July 29 last. Three panels of experts including DG of Tripura Police, personnel from the Indian Army, BSF and Judges of Supreme Courts and High Courts of several States and other stakeholders made elaborate discussion on the issue.
As the speakers talked about the NDPS Act and the complexities of apprehending the mastermind or even the macro players in case of an organized crime like drug trafficking, it appears the policymakers, security agencies and judiciary need to sit together and adopt technology-based tools to identify the source of trafficking – or at least persons involved at the State level crime scenario.
According to experts, there is an intricate relationship between drug and human trafficking and terror/insurgency funding.
The experts in the seminar pointed out drug trafficking and smuggling, Hawala and informal money transfer system, charities and NGOs abuse, kidnapping for ransom, and use of the dark web are some of the standard methods of insurgency/terror funding. Henceforth, following the money trails may be one of the useful tools in the combat against the drug menace, experts opined.
Of course, with the advent of the dark web, taking effective actions against illegal money transfers has become a challenging task and State Police personnel are undergoing regular training. Moreover, NCD, CBI and EDs are expanding and extending their capacities in the State and soon some of these institutions will have offices in the State – so the noose is expected to be tightened, Police sources said.
Apart from acting on fund transfer, security agencies’ efforts in putting an effective barrier on the supply of drugs is also facing a challenge owing to its proximity to Myanmar. Tripura shares state border with Mizoram which along with Manipur Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share 1643 kms unfenced and porous border. Ethnic affinity between the people of the four NE States and Myanmar allows people of both sides to cross Myanmar border – as a result, preventing smuggling is facing a big challenge, security personnel commented.
The experts’ view made it clear that the drug menace in the State is not an isolated issue and it has to be dealt with more coordinated efforts at the State, regional and national levels. As the country has taken a proactive role in this menace, efforts are already in place at the international level.