Aizawl: Mizoram State Core Committee on Fight Against Drugs, chaired by CM Lalduhoma on Tuesday, decided to constitute a commission to draft state-specific legislation or propose amendments to existing laws to strengthen Mizoram’s legal framework for drug control.The committee also agreed to simplify reimbursement of court witness expenses by exempting such payments from the IFMIS route.The meeting, held at the CM’s conference hall, reviewed the state’s ongoing efforts to curb drug abuse and illicit trafficking. It was attended by home minister K Sapdanga, excise & narcotics minister Lalnghinglova Hmar and other members.In his remarks, Lalduhoma appreciated departments and voluntary organisations involved in anti-drug efforts, saying the menace cannot be eliminated overnight but sustained action is beginning to show encouraging results.Progress reports were presented by the excise & narcotics department, police department, social welfare department and the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA).The excise & narcotics department said since the launch of Operation Jericho on Sept 1 last year, the availability of illicit drugs has declined considerably, leading to a sharp rise in street prices. A similar trend was reported for cough syrup and other commonly abused pharmaceutical drugs.Police reported that 319 drug-related cases were registered in 2025, with 483 arrests. From January to June 2026, 219 cases were registered and 312 persons arrested. Police attributed the rise in detections to a change in trafficking patterns, with smugglers moving smaller quantities more frequently, along with improved enforcement capability and equipment.The social welfare department reported that follow-up assessments of beneficiaries at the Hulhhliap Short Stay Centre indicate around 30% have successfully overcome addiction. It said 198 beneficiaries have received training in 13 skill development courses, while 21 have been assisted under the CM’s special package of Bana Kaih (hand-holding scheme). The govt spends an estimated Rs 15,422 per beneficiary for rehabilitation services at the centre.CYMA presented an update on its anti-drug initiatives through its anti-drugs squad and Operation Jericho, and reported effective use of vehicles provided for anti-drug operations.The committee noted that while heroin availability has declined and prices have risen, cannabis use has become more widespread and cough syrup abuse continues to increase. It stressed the need for structured, sustained awareness campaigns targeting children and youth through the school education department and church organisations.The meeting also discussed the need to establish active anti-drug committees in every locality and village, and deliberated on allocation and utilisation of funds for the Mizoram State Core Committee on Fight Against Drugs.
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