(a) whether the Government are aware that No. 4 Heroin is routed through the North-East from the Golden Triangle to reach the international market;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to check such activities;
(c) whether it is a fact that poppy plantation and Heroin manufacturing is taking place in Myanmar near our border; and
(d) if so, the action taken by the Government in association with the Myanmar Government to deal with the issue?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI I.D. SWAMI)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 396 BY SHRI HOLKHOMANG HAOKIP, MP FOR 19TH AUGUST, 2003 REGARDING SMUGGLING OF DRUGS.
(a) Small quantities of heroin produced in Myanmar are reportedly smuggled to India. However, there is no report of Golden Triangle heroin being smuggled through India to international markets.
(b) A number of steps have been taken to curb cross-border smuggling of narcotic drugs along the Indo-Myanmar border which, inter-alia, includes the following:-
(i) Strict surveillance at important points and land borders and enforcement of drug laws;
(ii) Improved coordination between drug law enforcement agencies in order to impart greater cohesion and multi agencies approach;
(iii) Increased international cooperation in intelligence collection, investigation and mutual legal assistance;
(iv) Bilateral and multilateral agreements on drug related matters with a number of countries including Mynamar;
(v) It has been decided to entrust the border management of the Indo-Myanmar border to Assam Rifles.
(c) Poppy plantation is being done on a small scale in Myanmar across India`s borders in Nagaland and Manipur, Significant amount of heroin is reportedly manufactured on the eastern border areas of Myanmar.
(d) The following steps have been taken in association with the Government of Myanmar to deal with the problem of illicit trafficking:-
A bilateral agreement has been entered with the Government of Myanmar for reducing demand and preventing illicit trafficking in narcotics drugs.
Two drug sniffing dogs were provided to Government of Myanmar and the dog handlers were also imparted training.
Periodical meetings are held between the law enforcement agencies of both the countries.