Mizoram: ‘Increase in illicit liquor production in Aizawl linked to Myanmar refugee influx’

AIZAWL: Manufacturing of illicit country-made liquor in and around Aizawl – the capital of Mizoram – has considerably increased following the influx of refugees from neighbouring Myanmar.

Mizoram excise and narcotics department commissioner, Z Lalhmangaiha, informed a meeting of excise officials and leaders of Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) on Thursday that manufacturing of locally brewed alcohol at Phunchawng area and its vicinity on the outskirts of Aizawl has been on the rise since recent times.

He attributed the rise in illicit liquor manufacturing in the Mizoram capital to the influx of refugees from Myanmar.

According to the Mizoram home department, over 34,000 Myanmar nationals, including 13,310 children, are now taking shelter in different parts of the state.

The Myanmar nationals mostly from Chin state have fled their homes following a military coup in February 2021.

The Chin, who are part of Zo ethnic group, share the same ethnicity, culture and religion with the Mizos.

Mizoram excise minister Lalnghinglova Hmar, who convened the meeting, said that the Mizo society has been greatly affected by drugs and alcohol.

He said that a strong collective effort between the government and mass civil organisation like CYMA is crucial to combat the menace.

In the future, the excise department will also collaborate with other departments and churches to combat the menace of drugs and alcohol, Hmar also said.

Z Lalhmangaiha said that the Mizoram excise department will look into the reports of alcohol being sold openly in some hotels and restaurants in the state capital.

Mizoram is a dry state where consumption, manufacture and sale of liquor is totally prohibited under Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, which came into force in May 2019.

According to the excise and narcotics department’s data, 21,963 litres of country-made liquor, 8532 bottles of   Indian made foreign liquor and 6,960 cans of beer have been confiscated in nearly 4 months from January to April 25.

26 kilograms of heroin, 384 kilograms of ganja (cannabis) and 112 kilograms of Methamphetamine tablets have also been seized during the same period, it said.