AIZAWL: At least 44 people, including seven women, have died due to drug abuse in Mizoram between January and July this year, the state Excise and Narcotics department said.
According to the records of the department, most victims are mainly due to abuse of heroin.
Since 1984, when the first drug-related death was recorded, at least 1,854 people, including 226 women, have died in Mizoram due to drug abuse.
Mizoram Police and the Excise and Narcotics Department officials have also seized a total of 89.317
kg of heroin and 335.605 kgs of methamphetamine over the past seven months (January to July).
During this period, police seized 57.126 kg of heroin and 223.077 kg of methamphetamine, while the Excise and Narcotics Department officials confiscated 32.191 kg of heroin and 112.528 kg of methamphetamine.
Additionally, police and excise officials seized 264.066 kg and 436.088 kg of ganja (cannabis) respectively. Police also seized 35.155 kg of crystal meth during this time, whereas the Excise and Narcotics Department reported no seizures of crystal meth this year.
According to police estimates, the seized crystal meth is valued at over Rs. 105.46 crore, with the heroin and methamphetamine
worth Rs. 17.14 crore and Rs. 29 crore respectively.