Aizawl: Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma said on Monday that the state government has been making massive efforts to combat the drug menace, an official said.
During a meeting with officials of the state excise and narcotics department, Lalduhoma said that the government has been taking steps since the formation of the new government in December last year and is still making efforts to combat drugs and other substance abuses in the state, the official said.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
He lauded the excise department and NGOs for their outstanding efforts to combat drugs and alcohol in the state.
During the meeting, the chief minister also discussed with the officials the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Act, 2019, and the Mizoram Liquor Prohibition Rules 2022 and ways to improve or amend the existing liquor laws, the official said.
State excise minister Lalnghinglova Hmar also attended the meeting.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The Excise and Narcotics Department said that over 37 kilograms of heroin has been seized by the department officials between January and September this year.
122 kilograms of Methamphetamine tablets and other drugs, including 546 kilograms of ganja (cannabis), and 5,803 tablets of Alprazolam have also been seized during the same period, it said.
Among others, the department also seized 49,413 litres of country-made or locally brewed illicit liquor, 18,391 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), 244 bottles of foreign-made liquor and 136 bottles and 22,747 canes of beer between January and September, it said.
5,499 people have been arrested in drug and alcohol-related cases during the same period, the department said.
Official data from the excise department said that 61 people, including 8 females, died due to drug abuse, mainly heroin in Mizoram from January to 14 October this year.
The northeastern state registered the first drug-related death due to heroin in 1984.
Since then, 1,871 people, including 227 females, have died due to drug abuse. According to officials, Spasmo-proxyvon or Parvon spas was the main killer drug until 2005 when it was taken over by heroin.
The official data also showed that the highest number of drug-related deaths was reported in 2004 during which 143 people, including 21 females died, followed by 139 tolls in 2000.