Pubdate: Fri, 18 May 2001 Source: Times of India, The (India) Copyright: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2001 Contact: http://www.timesofindia.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/453 MIZORAM GETS US AID IN COMBATING DRUG MENACE KOLKATA: The Mizoram excise department, on Thursday, became the first Indian state agency to receive US governmental aid for combating drug trafficking. At a simple ceremony in Kolkata, Mizoram excise commissioner L Khiangte received part of the hardware from Robert Bruce Barnes, country attache of US Drug Enforcement Administration. Also present on the occasion was Sabra Thornton, coordinator, Regional Crime and Narcotics Affairs, US Embassy, New Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Robert Burnes said that usually such assistance is requisitioned by law enforcement agencies as a reaction to the menace. "We are extremely happy that the Mizoram government has reached out for assistance," Burnes remarked. He pointed out that the India-Myanmar border was a vulnerable point so far as drug-trafficking was concerned area and that Myanmar was fast emerging as the second-largest producer of heroin. It was also becoming a major producer of amphetamines. While Burnes reiterated the need for close cooperation between the different agencies involved in anti-drug operations, Thornton pointed stressed on the need for closer coordination between different agencies in India and other countries so that the menace could be tackled with a firm hand. She stressed the need to share information and intelligence in this regard. Speaking on the occasion, Mizoram excise commissioner L.Khiangte expressed his gratitude for US assistance. He said that Mizoram's drug menace, which assumed serious proportions since the 80s, was imported from other places. "Once a demand was created, supplies automatically found their way," Khiangte observed. He said that a number of extremist groups were also involved in drug trafficking in the north-east. Khiangte observed that despite being a nodal agency to combat drug trafficking, the state law enforcement agencies were so long handicapped due to shortage of funds and modern hardware. The US aid will go a long way to mitigate these problems. The US equipment will be used to modernise excise department in Mizoram, Khiangte said. - --- MAP posted-by: Andrew