Mizoram is grappling with an escalating drug crisis, with 46 drug-related deaths recorded in the 2024-25 financial year as of February 13, according to State Excise and Narcotics Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar. The alarming figures reflect the growing heroin influx into the state, prompting authorities to intensify anti-drug operations. Since 1984, when Mizoram reported its first heroin-related death, the state has lost 1,884 people to substance abuse, including 230 women—accounting for 12.21% of the total fatalities. Authorities have observed a shift in drug abuse patterns. Until 2015, pharmaceutical opioids like Spasmo-Proxyvon and Parvon Spas were the primary causes of drug-related deaths. However, heroin has now emerged as the biggest threat due to its increased supply from Myanmar and neighboring states.
Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, law enforcement agencies have seized large quantities of narcotics between April 2024 and January 31, 2025:
Heroin: 34.15 kg
Methamphetamine: 34.18 kg
Cannabis (Ganja): 329.7 kg
Nitrazepam: 1.31 kg
Cough Syrup: 152.5 kg
Additionally, 458 individuals have been arrested for drug trafficking during this period, reflecting the government’s strict enforcement measures. Mizoram’s 510-km border with Myanmar and 318-km border with Bangladesh, along with inter-state boundaries with Assam, Manipur, and Tripura, make it a key transit hub for drug trafficking. The state is particularly vulnerable to heroin smuggling from Myanmar, which remains a major producer of illicit narcotics in Southeast Asia. The highest drug-related fatalities in Mizoram were recorded in 2004, with 143 deaths, followed by 139 deaths in 2000. In contrast, 1986 remains the only year with no drug-related deaths reported. Between 2015 and 2024, 564 people, including 92 women, lost their lives due to heroin and other substance abuse.
In response to the worsening crisis, the Mizoram government is ramping up efforts in collaboration with civil society organizations to combat drug addiction. The focus is on strengthening rehabilitation programs, raising awareness, and tightening border security to curb heroin trafficking. Officials emphasize that addressing the root causes of drug addiction, including unemployment and social vulnerability, is crucial to preventing further loss of life.
