Agartala, June 26 — Tripura Chief Minister **Dr. Manik Saha** has raised serious concern over the worsening drug menace in the state, attributing it to Tripura’s **geostrategic location**, which, while beneficial for trade, also makes it a vulnerable corridor for narcotics trafficking.
Speaking on the sidelines of the **International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking**, Dr. Saha — who also holds the **Home portfolio** — revealed a **103% rise in drug seizures** and a **132% increase in drug destruction** in the current fiscal compared to 2023-24. He credited intensified efforts under the **Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan** and the state’s **”zero tolerance” policy** for these results.
Despite these gains, the Chief Minister admitted the situation remains grim, with drugs entering Tripura via multiple routes — from **Myanmar through Mizoram and Manipur**, **across the Bangladesh border**, and from **mainland India**. Local **cannabis cultivation** also continues to fuel cross-border trafficking.
Opposition leaders, however, accused the BJP-led government of shielding powerful drug lords. CPI(M) leader **Jitendra Chaudhury** and Congress MLA **Sudip Roy Barman** alleged that while arrests are made, **convictions remain rare**. “Drug traffickers enjoy impunity due to political links,” said Roy Barman, questioning the absence of data on legal outcomes.
The crisis is also linked to a **spike in HIV/AIDS cases**, reportedly driven by **needle-sharing among IV drug users**. Health officials estimate around **120 new HIV-positive cases** are detected monthly, with real numbers likely higher due to limited testing.
Dr. Saha urged public participation in combating the drug crisis, calling it a **“global challenge.”** He warned that without **coordinated action**, Tripura could face a **public health disaster**.
The state government has pledged to strengthen **enforcement, rehabilitation, and awareness efforts**, but the growing crisis suggests a long battle ahead.
