THE live threat of narco-terrorism in the North-Eastern region is meeting a clampdown as India has started taking proactive steps along the porous Myanmar border. The Enforcement Directorate has conducted first-ever raids along India-Myanmar border in a drugs trafficking linked money laundering case. It is a long battle in the region and India’s risk-mitigation approach is the right response to a serious security threat. India shares a 1,624 kms border with Myanmar in the North-East. The States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram have many vulnerable points along the border which have traditionally served as transit routes for illegal drugs.

 

It has remained a theatre of insurgency and cross-border terrorist activities with drugs trade emerging from the Golden Triangle. Narco-terrorism has remained a problem for India in this region but the situation has now assumed a tricky proposition following the instability in Myanmar and ramped up activities of anti-India forces in the N-E region. Drug cartels, backed by entities from China and Pakistan, are at the forefront of fomenting trouble in India’s N-E States. Several ethnic organisations are being armed by these cartels as Myanmar continues to cope with the military coup of 2021. The border region has become a hub for drug mafia and armed militant groups who are being neatly exploited by China. With the current regime in Bangladesh under Mr. Mohammad Yunus also leaning towards China, the N-E border problem has escalated into a full-grown security threat for India. Recent statements by Mr. Yunus with reference to the Seven Sisters have indicated a collusion between Bangladesh and China to use the armed groups along the Myanmar border to create trouble in Indian towns. It was imperative for India to start effective measures along the Myanmar border to expose the launderers sitting inside the country and helping drug cartels export terror inside the North-Eastern States.

 

Myanmar is being used as a preferred destination to transport drugs into the country. The money is used to sponsor terror-groups operating in the North-East region. The ED raids followed the seizure of heroin worth Rs 1.41 crore from six people held by Mizoram Police. Further financial analysis of the arrested people has found a connection between firms located in the N-E and also in Western and Eastern region of India. It is a warning signal of the drug-terror nexus spreading tentacles inside the country. Terrorist organisations rely on drug-trafficking networks for funding. These drug cartels are being bolstered by the virtual free-hand to militant groups in Myanmar as the country’s army has made no effort to take control of the border areas. In fact, majority areas in Myanmar along the Indian border are ruled by various groups as their fiefdom. They have emerged as sympathisers of anti-India groups operating in the North-Eastern States. The money from drugs trade is regularly being used to provide arms to such groups.

 

The ethnic clashes in various N-E States, including Manipur, find their root in this nexus. It is a systematic activity, funded covertly by Chinese agencies, to keep the North-East boiling. Their operations have gained added momentum ever since the Centre has taken up development of N-E region as a top priority. The bid is to scuttle the Centre’s noble efforts of integrating N-E into the mainstream. The problem has become significant now with Bangladesh, too, toeing the anti-India line pursued by China. Guarding the border in N-E along Bangladesh is also a new front for India and hence the crackdown by ED. It is extremely important to demolish financial networks funding narco-terrorism. Along with the security and Intelligence sources, law enforcement agencies like the ED have their task cut out in the region, for drug cartels have adapted to such clampdowns by agencies.