The menace of drug abuse and drug trafficking can only be resolved when there is a concerted effort from all the stakeholders including the government and the public. This was the crux of the message carried out at a press meet marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, organised by Press Information Bureau (PIB) Kohima, Ministry of Information of Broadcasting, at the Kohima Press Club on Thursday.

Addressing the media, Superintendent of Police (SP) Narcotics Kohima Shinde Suresh Kailasrao pointed out that Nagaland has a 215 km long porous border with Myanmar and is located very near to the infamous Golden Triangle which has forced the state to become

a transit point of drugs going to other states.

He said checking illicit drug trafficking is a major challenge facing the police and other enforcing agencies as the traffickers keep on changing their drug transit routes.

The officer informed that during the last one and half years, Nagaland police registered

a total 270 NDPS cases and apprehended 465 persons in trafficking related cases. He said majority of the seizure of drugs including heroin and ganja were made on the Dimapur-Imphal National Highway.

The SP stated that since the declaration of “War Against Drugs” campaign by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, the state police department has upped the ante and has been working in close coordination with the district administration and line departments. Several awareness and preventive activities have also been taken up in schools, he said.

Recalling that this year’s theme of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is “Break the Cycle”, the official said focus is being given on prevention of trafficking and ensuring demand reduction. He further appealed to the general public to share any available information on drug trafficking to the police saying the persons’ identity would be kept anonymous.

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Dr. Bernice D, Joint Director (Prevention), Nagaland State AIDS Control Society said the state government is going in the forefront to address the problem of drug abuse and related issues. She said all the departments were taking the issue seriously and have started working to ensure a drug-free society in the state.

Saying that three broad parameters are in focus to address the issue of drug abuse – supply reduction, demand reduction, and harm reduction – Dr. Bernice maintained the issue also needs to be seen through biological, psychological and socio-economic ramifications.

Earlier, K Sonikumar Singh, Assistant Director PIB Kohima, who moderated the media interaction, gave an overview of the discussion and objectives of organising the press conference.