SHILLONG, June 16: Despite intensified enforcement, the launch of the Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM), and record-breaking seizures, narcotics continue to pour into Meghalaya. The persistence of the trade highlights the significant challenges authorities face in dismantling increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks.
One of the state’s most significant enforcement successes occurred in March when the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) conducted one of the largest recoveries in Meghalaya’s history. During a checkpoint operation at Ratacherra in East Jaintia Hills, police intercepted a vehicle and seized heroin and crystal methamphetamine valued at approximately Rs 51.13 crore.
The recovery of 203.7 grams of heroin and over 10 kg of crystal meth underscored both the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and the massive scale of the regional drug trade.
However, these large-scale recoveries also expose the state’s vulnerability.
Security experts point to Meghalaya’s geography—sharing a long international border with Bangladesh and serving as a transit point between Assam and the rest of the Northeast—as a primary factor. Traffickers frequently exploit difficult terrain and remote border crossings, using smaller consignments and varying routes to evade detection.
The crisis is compounded by rising local demand. Rehabilitation centres and community organisations have raised alarms over increasing substance abuse among the youth. Experts argue that enforcement measures will remain insufficient unless the root cause—demand—is addressed through sustained awareness, counselling, and rehabilitation.
Legal hurdles also persist. While arrests are frequent, securing convictions under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act is often hampered by lengthy investigations and forensic delays. Observers suggest that the focus must shift toward dismantling the financial infrastructure of the trade and targeting the masterminds behind the operations.
To tackle the issue, the state government’s DREAM project aims to combine enforcement with prevention and community participation. Religious institutions, student bodies, and village authorities have also joined the effort.
Despite these initiatives, the steady flow of contraband suggests that porous borders, organised networks, and a slow judicial process continue to provide traffickers with opportunities. Experts maintain that a successful resolution will require seamless coordination between enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and healthcare providers to effectively curb both the supply and the demand fuelling the illicit trade.
