Pubdate: Sun, 27 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 US HELPS MIZORAM COMBAT NARCOTICS MENACE AIZAWL: The United States has provided Mizoram with equipment worth Rs 29.65 lakh to combat the menace of drug trafficking from the infamous Golden Triangle via Myanmar. The equipment, including three cars, three jeeps, three motorcycles, four digital cameras, four computers and ten radio handsets were handed over to the Mizoram excise department by the US Consul General Christopher J Sandrolini on May 17 in Kolkata, assistant commissioner of the state department L Hmunsanga said here on Saturday. The equipment was given by the US government through the Union Ministry of Finance, he added. Chief of US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in India Robert Bruce Barns and Regional Narcotics and Crime Officer Sabra Thorton were present when the letter of agreement was signed, he said. Last year, US officials, including special agents from DEA visited Mizoram and praised the state excise department's achievements in fighting narcotic trafficking, he said. Mizoram has a 404 kilometre-long international border with Myanmar through which narcotics like heroin, opium and amphetamines from the Golden Triangle are smuggled. A number of illegal drug manufacturing laboratories also operate in Myanmar near the Mizoram border, the official said. The US officials said their government was ready to render any kind of assistance to dedicated drug enforcement agencies in India. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe