Dimapur transit point for movement of narcotic substances in Nagaland

Dimapur, March 22 (EMN): DIG (training and camp commandant), Police Complex Chumoükedima, Aotemsu, on Monday said that Dimapur was a transit point for a ‘vicious cycle’ that facilitates movement of narcotic substances in the state.

He stated that the law enforcement agency was challenged with the emergence of new synthetic drugs, which were easy to manufacture and smaller in size. Therefore, cracking the modus operandi of the peddlars was critical to the fight, an update on Monday informed.

The DIG was addressing a section of officers from the Police, Law and Justice, Excise, Drug Controller, Health and Family Welfare department during a one-day seminar on ‘narcotic drugs: laws and procedure.'

The programme was organised by Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) in collaboration with Narcotic Control Bureau, Guwahati zonal unit, Guwahati at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex in Chumoükedima on March 22.

Aotemsu further said that the modus operandi had evolved in the last 20 years. “More so the assignment and nomenclature of the enforcement agency have changed,” he added.

"Earlier, we used to intercept a convoy of truckers. Out of which two or three would be carrying the narcotic substances in huge consignment. Those previous cases of apprehended cases were huge and bulky. However those days are gone," he added.

However, the officer said that new synthetic drugs that have evolved in recent years could prove to be the easiest way to peddle drugs without making anyone suspicious.

"The NDPS found today are now easy to manufacture and don’t need to be carried in large quantity, yet are worth lakhs of rupees", he said.

“One of the underlying challenges in this front is that everything now seems normal and is easy to pass through any of the checkpoints. There is an inner tryst and turmoil in our society today and we at the forefront of the law enforcement agency need to acknowledge our duty with mental knowledge and better ethics,” he added.

It said that he called the participants to take the call to give feedback and explore insights into the obstacles and problems faced in the ground and how to tackle the challenges in this kind of investigation in Nagaland.

"Chargesheets are based on the mere confessions of an accused. However arrest, recovery and confession in line with the legal system should be the key of the investigation," the DIG said.

NSLSA member secretary N Longshithung Ezung, opined that laws dealing with drugs and narcotic, were a special legislation requiring specialised knowledge. “It needs efficient skill of handling the case from the stage of arrest to final disposal of the case,” he said.

“With the subject, having more stringent penal provisions than many other legislations requiring penalty and that it also prescribes certain special procedures of arrest, search, seizure etc and also for handling seized drugs for the purpose of collecting evidence, he pointed that it has been an area of interest discussed among judiciary and the law enforcing agency in various platform.

“Towards this he called for concerted efforts of stakeholders-judiciary, law enforcing agencies, prosecutors and bar to fully and effectively implement NDPS cases noting that the seminar will be of learning and equipping oneself with required knowledge and skills,” it said.

Resource person Manish Modi, Intelligence Officer, Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB), Guwahati and Suresh Kumar, SP, NCB, Imphal zone gave detailed presentations on salient features of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, investigation and common errors, trials and disposal orders and important judgments.

The day- long seminar converged on amendments and important features, national for drug abuse, prohibition control and regulation, offences and penalties, powers etc.

It said that the subject on investigation dealt on information gathering and processes, search and seizures, production in court and sampling, linking evidences, chargesheet, trial monitoring and error committed during these processes.