Mizoram recorded 71 drug-related deaths in 2024, including 11 women, according to the Excise and Narcotics Department. This marks a slight decline from 74 fatalities in 2023, but heroin abuse remains the leading cause, spokesperson Peter Zohmingthanga stated on Sunday.
Since the first recorded drug-related death in 1984, Mizoram has documented 1,881 fatalities, with 230 being women. The year 2004 witnessed the highest annual toll of 143 deaths. Over the last decade, 564 individuals have succumbed to drug abuse, underscoring the persistent crisis. Mizoram’s strategic location, sharing an 828-km border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, makes it a hotspot for narcotics trafficking. Heroin, predominantly smuggled from Myanmar, has replaced earlier substances like Spasmo-Proxyvon as the main cause of fatalities since 2015.
In 2024, authorities seized 46.5 kg of heroin, 138.8 kg of methamphetamine tablets, and 586.6 kg of ganja. Legal action was initiated against 7,309 individuals for drug- and alcohol-related offenses. Despite a ban on alcohol and stringent enforcement, smuggling networks continue to exploit Mizoram’s border vulnerabilities. Authorities remain focused on addressing the challenge, but the state’s proximity to drug-producing regions complicates the battle against narcotics.
