NEW DELHI, Dec 11 - Unabated trafficking of drugs through the porous India-Myanmar border into the North East was brought to the notice of the neighbouring country, while Myanmar elaborated on the growing production of Yaba tablets (methamphetamine), which has caused grave concern in the region.
These issues were discussed in the 5th India-Myanmar Bilateral Meeting on Drug Control Cooperation between the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India and the Central Committee on Drug Abuse Control, Myanmar held virtually.
The Indian delegation was led by the Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau, Rakesh Asthana, and the Myanmar delegation was led by the Commander of the Drug Enforcement Division (DED) cum Joint Secretary of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control, Pol Brig Gen Win Naing.
Official sources said both the countries agreed on the exchange of intelligence information on time to time to conduct follow-up investigations in drug seizure cases, new psychotropic substances and their precursors.
The meeting also agreed to conduct meetings of border level officers to strengthen the existing cooperation on drug law enforcement. It was decided to exchange information on illegal entry and exit points of illicit drug trafficking on the India-Myanmar borders and information on the technology being used to interdict drug trafficking.
Sources said Asthana highlighted issues particularly the trafficking of heroin and Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) in the country. He said the high prevalence of drug abuse in the northeastern states bordering Myanmar is a major cause of concern for India. Apart from porosity of the India-Myanmar border, drug trafficking through the maritime route in the Bay of Bengal has emerged as a new challenge for both countries.
The NCB has remained committed to strengthening the existing mechanism of sharing information and assistance with Myanmar and for combating the drug menace in the region.
Brig Gen Win Naing elaborated on the growing production of Yaba tablets, even though the cooperation mechanism between Myanmar and India has been enhanced over the past years.
He urged India to develop frequent information exchange on the trafficking of drugs and precursor smuggling activities at every level.
