Aizawl: As drug trafficking routes shift following intensified crackdowns, the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA), Mizoram’s largest civil society organisation, has urged its Manipur-based units and other ethnic Mizo groups to act as the frontline defence against the influx of narcotics, the organisation said in a statement on Friday.
Addressing the 41st conference of the Manipur Group YMA in Churachandpur town on Thursday night, CYMA General Secretary Malsawmliana highlighted a strategic shift in smuggling routes.
He said the change followed the launch of Operation Jericho, a joint crackdown by the state government and the YMA.
Malsawmliana urged the Manipur Group YMA and the Joint Philanthropic Organisation (JPO), which represents various Zofa community voluntary groups, to intensify efforts to intercept drug trafficking into Mizoram, the statement said.
“Recently, due to Operation Jericho, it appears that some drug trafficking routes into Mizoram have shifted. In light of this, I urge the Manipur Group YMA and the various Zofa community organisations under the JPO to do their utmost to block drugs from entering Mizoram,” Malsawmliana said.
He further challenged YMA branches within the Manipur Group to step up enforcement within their respective jurisdictions to disrupt local supply chains.
Beyond interdiction, he also emphasised the need for extensive awareness programmes targeting children and those not yet affected by substance abuse.
He said the “War on Drugs” should not be left to the YMA and the government alone; rather, it is a collective responsibility of parents and churches.
During the conference, Malsawmliana also launched the organisation’s 2026 theme, “Ruihhlo Do” (War on Drugs).
The event was attended by 20 CYMA leaders, including its president R. Lalngheta, along with YMA leaders from Mizoram and Assam’s Silchar town.
According to CYMA sources, there are currently 21 YMA branches under the Manipur Group, comprising 8,876 members.