Mizoram: Sea-change after YMA's war on drugs

Aizawl, Jun 27: Young Mizo Association's Ruihhlo Do (campaign against drugs and liquor) is bearing fruits with the number of drug-related deaths decreasing in the state.

With the rest of the world, Mizoram too observed the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking yesterday, where Excise and Narcotics Commissioner Lalbiakmawia Khiangte underlined that the scenario of Mizoram in regards to drugs has totally changed since the YMA launched the anti-drug campaign in 2005.

A huge stock of seized drugs was burnt today by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force to commemorate the Day. The commissioner stated that the burnt drugs were those collectively seized by the Drug and Narcotics, Police and Drugs Control Administration departments. The burnt drugs excluded those seized by YMA volunteers.

Excise and Narcotics Minister Dr Lalzama, speaking at the Day's function at Vanapa Hall, said Mizoram has been exposed to drug abuse 25 years back.

''It started from among the spoilt rich children in the towns, and then spread to the villages, and became a statewide problem within a short period of time. Besides loss of precious lives, drug abuse also increases theft cases,'' the minister said.

UNI