Aizawl: Officials of the Mizoram excise and narcotics department and the Assam Rifles, in a joint operation, seized over 141 grams of heroin on a road between Zote and Bulfek villages in Champhai district on Tuesday night, department spokesperson Peter Zohmingthanga said on Wednesday.Two women, Nianglamnuami (26) and Lalnunmawii (30), both residents of the Mual Nuam Bethel locality in Champhai town, were arrested and booked under relevant sections of the the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. They were produced before a district court in Champhai, he said.Zohmingthanga said the department has seized 15.117 kg of heroin since Jan 1. During the same period, it also seized 62.704 kg of methamphetamine and 9.807 kg of crystal meth.Other seizures included 128.544 kg of cannabis and clinical drugs like cough syrup, alprazolam, nitrazepam, clonazepam and tramadol, he said.At least 26 people, including three women, have died due to drug abuse between January and June 24, he said, adding that 2,023 people (1,776 males and 247 females) have died in the state since 1984 where the first drug related death was recorded.Mizoram remains a key conduit for drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle via Myanmar, with traffickers using the porous 404-km international border for smuggling.
